AN AMUSEMENT arcade manager fears his seafront business could soon fold.

David Fisher of Harry's Amusements on Weymouth Esplanade has already made two redundancies after a downturn in business and says other arcades are suffering the same problem.

He blames the change on new machine restrictions introduced under the Gambling Act last September.

Mr Fisher said: "I am worried we will close.

"We used to have a nice little trade in the mornings but now we are lucky to see a customer by lunchtime.

"They just don't like the new machines.

"This is the first winter we have had to make two staff redundancies. Normally we just tighten out belts and keep going during the winter, but this year the impact was so dramatic that we had to start making redundancies by November."

Mr Fisher said the company had been forced to spend some £20,000 adjusting or replacing arcade games to comply with the new law.

Under new rules the number of £500 jackpot machines had to be halved and maximum stakes on them reduced to £1 per game.

Mr Fisher said: "Our cash reserves are not a bottomless pit and at the moment we are losing money.

"The smoking ban has not helped either.

"Our biggest concern is for tourism. The amusement industry is very important to our local economy.

"If you remove all the amusement centres from Weymouth there is not really much else for the tourists to do."

Closure of Weymouth's arcades would leave several large seafront properties empty, he added.

The British Amusement Catering and Trade Association (BACTA) warns seaside arcades would be among the worst hit.

It is urging people to write to their local MPs to demand a change in the law.

President Nick Harding said: "If nothing happens then half of the industry could be out of business this year."

South Dorset MP Jim Knight said he supported changes brought in under the Gambling Act.

"Measures were brought in to protect children and I don't think we should lose sight of that," he said.

"Obviously if we can keep the amusements available to visitors on the basis that they are safe then I would want to do that, but there are a whole range of things that make Weymouth such a compelling place."