Mystery surrounds the closure of a Fylde coast casino.

Bosses at Stanley Casino in St Annes shut its doors for the final time last Saturday, moving its operation to Blackpool.

Hundreds of members at the casino, based at The Island entertainment complex, were informed of the closure by letter.

Around 50 full and part-time staff who worked at the St Annes complex have been found positions at other Stanley casinos in the North West.

Despite requests from The Gazette, bosses at Stanley Casinos refused to reveal why the St Annes operation had closed and any plans for the building.

In a statement, a spokesman for the company, said: „The decision to close the casino is in line with Stanley’s aims of improving the quality of its estate and the company is looking to focus its efforts on the nearby Blackpool Castle Casino.

„The casino ceased trading on March 31. Stanley Casino can confirm that all staff have been offered positions elsewhere within the business.

„We expect the proximity of the Blackpool casino to St Annes will ensure the majority of members affected will be able to continue to enjoy a state-of-the-art casino and the best environment in which to relax and socialise.“

Stanley Casino rented the space underneath the cinema at The Island from its owners.

It moved from its original location at the Plaza Entertainments Centre on St Georges Road in October 1998.

It was originally called the Clifton Casino before directors Edward Cook and David Greenwood sold the business to the casinos division of Liverpool-based Stanley for an undisclosed sum in June 1998.

More than GBP 1m was invested into the site when it opened.

A spokesman for The Island entertainment complex said the company did not know what was going to happen to the empty site.