Karen Preston got a flash of inspiration on Blackpool prom

Mother-of-two Karen Preston had the inspiration for the game as she walked along Blackpool Promenade 10 years ago.

"I was waiting to cross the road when I watched the horses and carriages and thought this would make a good board game," she said.

The result is a game full of deckchairs and sticks of rock and it has already caught the eye of tourist chiefs.

Using some big pieces of card, felt and her own drawings she produced a rough game for her family.

And the outcome was Blackpool Rocks, a game best described as Ludo meets Monopoly meets Snakes and Ladders with traps along the way.

Players start off with sticks of rock which they have to deposit on one of the three piers on the board.

I've never had any qualifications and struggled all my life working in factories, pubs or cleaning Karen Preston

The player who sheds their sticks first is the winner but risks collecting more rock if they land on the rock shop.

All round the board are perils ranging from Kiss Me Quick Hats to deckchairs with illustrations of everything that makes Blackpool what it is.

It might have remained just a piece of family fun if she had not received the encouragement of her partner.

Watching a TV news item on how Blackpool's family image was suffering is what spurred her on.

"I had watched the television about how the gift shops were being told to sell less saucy items.

"I had this idea and I just wanted to do something. I've never had any qualifications and struggled all my life working in factories, pubs or cleaning."

Karen's daughter Katie lands on a pier

Scraping together money to pay for printing costs, the pair produced an initial run of 1,000 games.

Already Blackpool Hotels are selling the game.

"The owners of Blackpool Tower are very impressed and could be selling it in time for Christmas", said Karen.

The game was also on show at the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of some of Blackpool's trams.

"It lasts up to an hour which I have been told is the right length of time for children," said Karen.

But it's catching on with adults too.

"A solicitor I know told me he plays it with friends."

Her immediate ambitions are to sell the initial run of 1,000.

"At the moment it's like paying back a business loan but after that, who knows?"