Workers at the Clifton Drive site described tomorrow's closure as "the end of an era" and said losing their jobs would be like "losing a family".

Employees were left in tears when bosses announced Pontin's would close earlier this month.

And many of the 74 people who cook, clean and entertain guests at the famous camp face an uncertain future.

Kerry Merilo, 24, moved hundreds of miles from her home in Newcastle to work at Pontin's more than four years ago.

Since then, she has met her fiancee, Andy Philip, a security guard at the site, and both her mother and grandmother have uprooted their lives to come to Blackpool to be with her.

Both Miss Merilo – who is a lifeguard – and Mr Philip have lost their jobs.

She said: "I've had the best five years of my life, every member of staff I count as a friend, and I even met my fiancee, while I worked here.

"It's not just losing a job, it's losing a family.

"I don't know what I'm going to do now, I'll just have to keep looking for a job, I just hope it's got an atmosphere like Pontin's."

Miss Merilo will now move in with her mother Christine, and grandmother Heather, on Eastbourne Road, South Shore.

Mr Philip, 28, a security guard, added: "It's a very bad time to be looking for a job, but we'll keep looking until we get one."

Duty manager at the holiday camp, Wayne Carr, 26, spoke of how staff were left in floods of tears when the announcement was made on September 9.

He said: "There was an announcement over the Tannoy, and all of us were called into one room.

"When the manager said it would close down, there were many people crying, everyone was absolutely heartbroken.

"We had to take some time to get ourselves together before we went back to work.

"I've worked here for three years after coming from Southport Pontin's, and it's one big family here. We are all being split up.

"We can apply for jobs at the other five camps, and I hope to get a duty manager job at one of the other five camps in the UK.

"But it's the end of an era, and staff are devastated."

Some staff, including several of the famous Bluecoats, have transferred to other parks across the UK.

Ryan Walters, 22, who will be transferring to Pontin's Pakefield, in Suffolk, added: "I was so upset when I heard I'd have to go. I've got so many friends, and I live on site, so it's going to be a massive change.

"Pontin's, as well as Blackpool Council, have done their best to provide counselling and advice, and direct other people to job centres."

Bosses at Pontin's, which opened in Blackpool in 1961, praised staff for their years of hard work and said it was with "deep regret" the 800-chalet site was closing.

Graham Parr, chairman of Ocean Parcs, the company which owns Pontin's, explained the only reason the Blackpool camp was closing was because the company did not own the site.

Landlord Northern Trust, which is owned by tycoon Trevor Hemmings, has unveiled plans to build houses on the Pontin's site.

Mr Parr, who is from Blackpool and himself a former Bluecoat, said: "It was with regret and sadness we could not extend the development plans to the Blackpool holiday park.

"It was not an easy decision for the board to make, but we do not own the freehold for the site.

"I must emphasise our decision in no way reflects upon our Blackpool colleagues who have worked extremely hard to deliver the Pontin's experience and provide great holidays for our guests.

"We are currently in consultation regarding the future and doing everything possible to employ those affected elsewhere in the business as we develop and expand."

He also did not rule out a possible Pontin's return to the resort in the future.

Mr Parr said: "I'm a Blackpool lad and love the town so it (closure) was a hard decision to make.

I believe with the developments that are taking place in the town Blackpool is in a better position than many seaside resorts and it may well be that we look to develop new sites in the area in the future should the opportunity arise."

Ocean Parcs is embarking on a multi-million pound investment in its other Pontin's sites in Somerset, East Sussex, Suffolk, Prestatyn and Southport.

Visitor numbers to the Blackpool park have fallen by eight per cent in the past year while they have increased by 25 per cent nationally.