The Government has given a controversial super-casino plan the axe.

However, plans for a new casino development in Stranraer have been given the green light.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham confirmed the decision to go ahead with 16 large regional casinos today, but drop the proposed huge gambling venue, in a statement to MPs this afternoon.

The Stranraer casino, which will be part of a wider seafront development, is the only one considered for Scotland under the scheme.

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He confirmed the decision, saying the smaller projects did not "pose the same level of risk" of "negative impact" as the 'Las Vegas-style' super-casino.

Casinos with up to 150 slot machines and prizes of up to £4,000 are expected for Leeds, Southampton, Great Yarmouth, Middlesbrough, Solihull, Hull, Milton Keynes and Newham in London.

Smaller sites are also expected for Somerset, Dumfries and Galloway, Scarborough, Wolverhampton, Swansea, Luton, Torbay and East Lidsey.

Confirming the plan a spokesman for Prime Minister Gordon Brown's said: "There is a huge difference in scale in terms of gambling opportunities in a super-casino and the smaller casinos. What we said was we would work up alternative regeneration packages which did not rely on a super-casino."

(CD/JM)