TENBY must never be turned into a Blackpool or Las Vegas, a Mid and West Wales AM has urged.

Welsh Tory Lisa Francis has expressed concern over recent Government proposals to allow the proliferation of casinos in the UK.

Her worries over a possible impact on west Wales seaside resorts were echoed at the recent Wales Tourism Alliance conference.

"There is concern about possible problems emanating from casinos - in the form of large city-type amusement arcades," she explained.

"Resorts such as Tenby would be wholly unsuitable for these businesses. Tenby is already the Welsh capital for stag and hen parties and there are already problems in the town with binge drinking, and yobbish behaviour. Who can foresee what other elements a gambling industry would attract?

Ms Francis explained that although this was not a devolution matter, she wanted to see the issue of gambling in Wales raised in the Assembly.

"Our west Wales resorts need support to maintain their reputations as desirable family destination," she added.

"Tenby has never tried to be a Blackpool or a Las Vegas, but has relied on its natural charms. Let us emphasise these, in preference to the siphoning of gaming profits into the pockets of big business. With these casinos, money will stay within the large corporations and not the community and there will be few jobs."

Tenby currently has one low-key amusement arcade owned by Serendipity Holdings Ltd, which also owns the larger arcade in Saundersfoot.