The Evangelical Alliance has welcomed Professor Mark Griffiths' warning that slot machines of whatever sized stake can be addictive and that vulnerable children should not be allowed to use them.

The alliance, representing more than a million Christians in the UK has consistently maintained this view, even when it was being hotly contested during the passage of the Gambling Bill in both houses of Parliament.

However, the government disagreed, claiming that a ban would adversely affect seaside arcades.

The EA states, "This surely stood in direct conflict with Tessa Jowell's stated number one priority for the Gambling Act of 'protecting children and the vulnerable'."

Christians in seaside towns have expressed anxiety about low educational attainment locally, often exacerbated by truanting children in arcades.

Pastor Derrick Hill from Park Baptist Church, Great Yarmouth, said: "The open door policy of seafront arcades is a honey trap for children of high school age."