Paul added: "To say it took the whole of the media industry by surprise is an understatement.

"I think it is the first story where there has never been a leak or someone has had their card marked that it might be Manchester."

Following the quick switch, the MEN's third edition - complete with the new front page headlined 'Manchester's Casino Jackpot' and more detail on page four - hit the streets at around 12.15pm.

The news was immediately uploaded on to its website and also made the front page of the paper's free city edition at 2pm.

At least five pages of reaction and analysis were planned for today's editions.

On Saturday the MEN ran an article looking at the benefits that the casino would have brought to Blackpool - which is on the fringe of its circulation area.

Meanwhile at The Gazette in Blackpool, the paper's final edition front page was headlined 'Casino Dream in Tatters'.

Ahead of the result being announced the paper had primed all the town's key movers and shakers for comment.

All of its reporters had been working on what would have been a celebration story, including one who had gone to Fylde college - where students can train to become croupiers - and where lectures were stopped as the announcement was eagerly awaited.

News editor Jon Rhodes said: "The news was a massive shock and disappointment.

"No one was prepared for this. Everyone thought it was us or the Dome."

He added: "We had two reporters at the town hall with the world's press - who quickly left when it was announced that it was Manchester which had got it."

As well as a front page story, staff also turned around a page two lead headlined 'We Will Not Take This Lying Down' to meet the paper's 11.30am deadline.

Three more pages of reaction were planned for today, as well as an eight-page supplement. Finger-pointing and recriminations among the losers mean that an appeal against the decision is possible - so the story may not be over yet.

"Sadly it is not the celebratory paper we had planned," said Jon.