When you think of the quaint old city of Bath you think of Roman ruins, picturesque streets and lazy Sunday afternoons downing local Ale.

Therefore when a study was put to locals asking if they wanted a casino in their midst recently you can predict the reaction.

The study commissioned by Bath and North East Somerset Council as part of it’s bid to bring a new casino to the old City shows that there is widespread opposition to the idea.

Based on data from a council survey, it shows 32 per cent of people asked were "unfavourable" to all types of gambling and just 15 per cent favourable.

Casino games proved even more unpopular, with 45 per cent of people "unfavourable" compared to just 12 per cent "favourable". In contrast, a separate Government survey found 37 per cent of people nationally and 34 per cent in the south west had "unfavourable" views of such games.

While many people in the district took a dim view of gambling, 62 per cent had engaged in the activity in some form during the previous year.

However, that remains significantly below the national average of 72 per cent and people in the district spend much less on gambling than across the country as a whole, at an average of £2.14 per week compared to £3.70 nationally.

Don Foster, the city's Lib Dem MP, said the results highlighted the need for further public consultation before any specific proposals are agreed.

"It's absolutely critical that if the council decides in principle that it wants to go ahead that the people of Bath are given full details of any actual proposals and an opportunity to voice their views on them before any decision is made," he said.

"This is an issue that is far too controversial to be decided without an opportunity for people to have their say. Any proposal would have to include full details of how we would keep crime out and prevent an increase in problem gambling."

But he added: "Properly run, a small casino in Bath, with appropriate measures in place could benefit the local economy without adding to problem gambling."

Last year the council voted in favour, but following a change in both national and local political leadership, councillors are being asked one last time before the matter is put to Parliament for a final decision.

Supporters of the bid argue that it would reinvigorate the city's economy and bolster efforts to turn Bath into a destination for business tourism, at the same time as reviving a key part of its heritage.

Studies estimate that it would create 200 jobs and bring £35m into the local economy.