THE planned redevelopment of Morecambe's Frontierland by Morrison's has sparked renewed interest in the ailing Midland Hotel.

The administrators currently running the hotel say they have had a recent surge of interest and several serious bids.

All the potential buyers are said to be "waiting in the wings" while the estate of the former owner is wound up.

Gary Phillips, from the administrators Sills and Betteridge, said: "There has been a lot of interest recently and we now have a number of serious bids. There will probably be a short term closure of the hotel while any new owner refurbishes the interior and any changes will have to go through a planning process with the local authority. I can't give too much away at this stage but I can say that none of the bidders are household names."

The Citizen understands that at least one of the potential buyers is a locally-based company.

The doomed Bubbles site could be developed into a high class marina to take advantage of the speed boat ban on Lake Windermere.

That's the latest idea doing the rounds at the Town Hall.

Independent leader, Cllr Tricia Heath, said: "We need to go upmarket and can't carry on being a poor imitation of Blackpool. If Bubbles can't be saved it would be a wonderful site for a marina which could also tie in with the Midland Hotel. We're talking to boating enthusiasts and being pro-active. A lot of people in Morecambe think it's a good idea."

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