BINGO operators in the North-East have launched a fight back against the threat posed by the new breed of super casinos.

Many of the country's three million devotees of bingo believe the relaxation of the law proposed in the Gambling Bill, which would allow Las Vegas-style casinos to be built in the UK for the first time, is a threat to their traditional pastime.

On Monday, the standing committee reviewing the draft Bill will meet for the final time before it goes back before Parliament.

Yesterday, members of two east Durham clubs presented a petition signed by 200 bingo fans to local MP John Cummings calling for the Government to think again on the issue.

The clubs at Murton and Horden, both operated by Carlton Clubs, fear they could be forced out of business by the competition from super casinos, such as the one being proposed on their doorstep at Sunderland's Stadium of Light.

Last month developers applied for planning permission for a £100m leisure complex including hotel, restaurants and bars.

Yesterday, Carlton Clubs' operations director Brian King said: "For the first time under this new legislation both new super and existing large casinos will be able to offer bingo.

"Existing bingo clubs of a certain size will also be able to convert to casinos and planning consent for these changes will not be required.

"Given the huge popularity of bingo, one can easily envisage bingo being offered as a lure to get more people into casinos - regularly exposing them to hard forms of gambling."

He added: "This new competitive climate, based on the wider availability of high value slot machines and gaming tables, will force many community bingo clubs to either convert or face closure."