Trustees of the AH Trust Fund, which is proposing the £3.5m project, have looked at sites around the city with a view to opening the country's first ever multi-faith tourist attraction.

Blackpool was believed to be the first choice but officials behind the project today revealed that a site closer to Preston is now expected.

The park would include two interative cinemas, a cafeteria, a patio garden area, six shops and a 5,000-capacity television studio to produce and show Christian films.

Trustee Peter Jones said the charity had "a number of sites" in mind across the North West but was yet to choose a final location.

He said: "We have a number of sites in mind, which have different restrictions, but we are looking at an area in the North West, in a triangle of Lancaster, Liverpool and Manchester.
"From our research we found there is a great demand for a Christian theme park - a place where you can go and relax and provide a place for people to listen to God, as well as being a meeting place for leaders of all different religions."

He said the trust, which is based in Shevington, near Wigan, was non-denominational and covered all religions, including Christian, Catholic, Muslim, and Hindu.

Investors have put up cash to get the park off the ground and are seeking volunteers to run it.

Fr Timothy Lipscomb, from Preston Minster, said he believed the city's multicultural make-up made it a suitable location for a theme park.

For more on this story, see Monday's Lancashire Evening Post.