When it seemed like the on going feud between Manchester and Blackpool over the awarding of the super casino licence couldn’t get any more bitter revelations today have panned the flames of controversy.

It’s emerged that an expert who helped Manchester's successful bid for the UK's first supercasino had previously lobbied for Blackpool.

Paul Bellringer, an expert on gambling addiction, was seen as instrumental in securing Manchester's controversial victory.

As a director of the consultancy firm Responsible Gambling Solutions, hired by Manchester City Council to assist with its bid, Bellringer helped lobby ministers and even presented the city’s case to a public inquiry session organised by the Government’s Casino Advisory Panel (CAP).

Six years ago, however, Mr Bellringer said that Blackpool was the “ideal” location for a supercasino.

A former director of GamCare, a charity that examines gambling addiction and its effects,  he was involved in the drafting of the Government's 2001 gambling legislation.

In a promotional video for Blackpool’s bid, he said: “[GamCare] support the notion that because a casino is breaking the mould of the way we have done it in this country before, it should be tried out in one area only, and Blackpool, with its unique-make up, seems to be the ideal place for this to happen.”

However, Mr. Bellringer, by then working for the rival bid team,  said just twelve months ago that Manchester “will become an ideal test bed for the regional casino”.

He added: “In my opinion, Manchester’s approach increases the chances of achieving an appropriate balance between commercial opportunity and social responsibility.”