A BLACKPOOL favourite is hoping to make one last visit to the town before she stops singing forever.

May Harold, a top club and cabaret vocalist, has performed eight summer seasons in the resort but has been told she must lose her voice if she is to live.

The Scottish star, a favourite at Blackpool venues like the Winter Gardens and Layton Institute, has a rare form of neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder which causes tumours to grow on nerves throughout the body.

She has developed a tumour near the nerve controlling her vocal cords which must be removed to save her life but doctors say she will not be able to sing after surgery.

They wanted to operate as soon as possible but May is determined to wait and use her talent to help others before it happens.

She is embarking on a farewell tour to mark the end of her singing career and to raise money to help families affected by the disorder.

She has been allowed a year for the tour which she hopes will bring her to a Blackpool venue one last time although no firm plans have been made yet.

May said: "Blackpool is THE place to perform a summer season and it would be great to come back this year.

"I have many fans in the town and lots of people travel from Ireland and Wales specifically to see me perform in Blackpool.

"I have had a lot of good times.

"I still hope to be involved in the entertainment business if I can, but it depends on how good my speaking voice is after the operation."

May embarks on her fundraising tour on March 7.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.