THE bubble may have burst on Blackpool's regular prime-time TV slot -- the BBC is rumoured to be dropping its hot air balloon logos, one of which features the resort's famous Tower.

BBC bosses are believed to feel that the balloon films are "slow" and "out of touch".

The original idea of the balloon logos was to show that the BBC covers the whole country and it is estimated that they have been seen on our screens more than 40,000 times since they were introduced several years ago. Blackpool Tower was added a year or so after the campaign first started -- in case you are wondering, the picture was created on computer and the balloon never actually flew above the town.

A BBC spokesman said this week: "The balloon motif has done fantastically well for the BBC. We are looking at whether it is still the right thing for the channel.

"It is too soon to say whether the balloon will be dropped as we have only just started looking but we would definitely never rule Blackpool Tower out of appearing in any new films."

Martin Blore, executive general manager at Blackpool Tower, said he was delighted that The Citizen had taken up the issue of the use of the Tower on the BBC films.

"It would be a great shame if the BBC decided to do away with Blackpool Tower on its links as the Tower does look particularly impressive.

"It also serves as a great reminder to viewers of one of the many reasons to visit Blackpool."