Local difficulties haven't stopped the tycoon behind many of Blackpool's leading attractions from soaring ahead in the latest survey of Britain's rich.

Trevor Hemmings, the man behind Leisure Parcs, owner of Blackpool's Tower, piers and Winter Gardens, is closing in on billionaire status in the latest Sunday Times rich list.

The annual list, values Mr Hemmings at £928 million, up from £730 million 12 months ago, making him Britain's 58th richest man.

Leisure Parcs has courted controversy in recent weeks after scrapping the summer season at North Pier and came under fire from comic Freddie Starr after he was forced to cancel a Winter Gardens date after poor ticket sales.

But Mr Hemmings, whose horse, Hedgehunter, won last year's Grand National, has seen other business interests, including Littlewoods Pools, a pub chain and his Northern Trust group, thrive in the past year.

Other Fylde Coast millionaires on the list include Blackpool FC owner, Owen Oyston and family, valued at £96 million. The newspaper predicts that Mr Oyston, equal 607th in the list, could see his wealth increased if he sells off the football club.

This year has also seen the controversial tycoon, who served four years of a six year sentence for rape in the late 1990s, return to estate agency and the magazine business.

St Annes based Mark Adlestone and family are 648th with £90million.

They own most of the locally-based Beaverbrooks jewellery chain.

Donald Sidebottom, head of Blackpool-based Glasdon group, is in equal 944th place in the table with £60 million; Doreen Lofthouse of Fleetwood-based Fisherman's Friend, is up £4 million to £72 million while Booths supermarket boss, Edwin Booth, is a new entry to the list with £64 million, putting him 918th.