Meanwhile, the acquisition of properties on Tower Street is now almost complete in readiness for phase two of the Houndshill Centre.

Regeneration chiefs hope to link Houndshill with the Winter Gardens, which at its Church Street entrance opens out onto St John's Square.

The council announced in December it was making a £40m bid for the Winter Gardens and The Tower if it can secure European funding.

Part of that sum includes cash set aside to invest in the premises.

Doug Garrett, chief executive of ReBlackpool, said work on the bid was progressing.

He said: "We need to look at what feasible uses there are for the premises. The package being put together is not just to acquire, but also to allow investment to go into the Winter Gardens and the Tower."

Referring to the Winter Gardens, he added: "We need to be in a position to ensure what is there, is saved.

"There are opportunities for retail, linking in with the Houndshill, and we are also looking at how we deal with the Opera House and how that can be used in a much fuller way than to date."

While expressions of interest are being sought from operators to run the Tower, with a deadline next week, Leisure Parcs is expected to continue to run the Winter Gardens for a short time.

For more on this story see Tuesday's Gazette.