MORECAMBE's landmark Midland Hotel may fall to the bulldozers...

That's the word on the street in Morecambe as plans to restore the derelict gem back to its former glory take longer than planned.

Lancaster City council gave the thumbs up to Urban Splash's blueprint to restore the Midland way back in January - but no workmen have been sighted yet. Now locals are casting doubts over the future of the seafront hotel.

But despite the lack of action, Urban Splash promises the hotel will be restored.

A spokesman said this week that work is on hold because the company is still in 'talks with other partnerships' for funding.

She stresses that the hotel is not for sale and will not be bulldozed.

Sue Thompson, of Friends of the Midland, is also confident that the hotel will be refurbished.

She says: "It is hard for private companies to fund something like this but Urban Splash will see it through. I can understand that people are getting worried and I am receiving calls and e-mails from concerned locals but I do not think for one minute that Urban Splash will turn their back on it."

But she admits that the 1930s art deco landmark is in a sorry state.

"The hotel is looking very rough because it has been about 13 years since any work was done on it and it's starting to show signs of serious dilapidation," she says.

"It's just another thing that does not look right in Morecambe."

Back in January, Urban Splash chairman Tom Bloxham said he was 'thrilled' the scheme had been approved, though adding that much needed to done before work could start.

The doors to the hotel were thrown open to the public by the developers in February when an £8million restoration plan was unveiled.