Think of Blackpool and images of huge fairground rides, kiss-me-quick hats, endless amusement arcades and some of the country's most lively nightlife are probably among those that spring to mind.

Think of caravan holidays and for the uninitiated, thoughts of cramped conditions, noisy sites and basic facilities may well arise.

As a first-time visitor to Britain's most famous seaside town and a 'carvanning virgin' to boot, it was these kind of preconceptions that dominated my thoughts as I looked forward to a long weekend break in Blackpool.

Of course Blackpool does have the Pleasure Beach - home to 145 different rides including the Big One, the world's tallest rollercoaster - Blackpool Tower and numerous other glittering attractions as well as enough pubs and clubs to keep even the most energetic party animal happy for a lot longer than a weekend.

Those attractions justify claims that Blackpool really is the ''coast with the most'' and the quintessential English seaside town, but we were delighted to discover the town and area also has a whole lot more to offer.

And within minutes of arriving at our caravan in British Holidays' Marton Mere Holiday Village, I quickly realised any fears for our comfort over the next three nights were completely unfounded.

Settling into our 32ft by 12ft caravan - after a smooth check-in at 1.30pm - we soon discovered it came equipped with virtually every facility we would need over the weekend, making it a real home from home.

Tastefully decorated throughout, our Gold Olympic caravan - the holiday homes come in five bands ranging from 3 Star accommodation to the Gold Olympic standard which includes bed linen and passes - boasted two-bedrooms, a double and a twin, with more than enough wardrobe, drawer and cupboard space for a weekend or even a week's visit.

And with our 15-month-old daughter in tow, a special fixture in the twin room attached to a wall fitting turned her single bed into a safe and secure cot, sparing us a cot hire charge or the trouble of taking a travel one with us.

The bathroom with shower cubicle - accessible from the main bedroom or hall - was small but perfectly serviceable with an open-plan kitchen, dining area and living room completing the set up.

The kitchen facilities and equipment were superb for self-caterers with a medium-sized, well-stocked supermarket and bakery selling all the basic food essentials - bar fresh meat - as well as newspapers, alcohol, cigarettes and souvenirs.

But for those wishing to stay out of the kitchen, Marton Mere's Foodworks offers a range of takeaway meals with all-day meals also available in the Aqua Bar and summertime barbecues on the terrace.

Meanwhile Blackpool and its many restaurants is less than three miles away and the nearby village of Staining boasts the Golden Dragon, a perfectly decent Chinese takeaway.

At first sight the park may seem to consist of nothing more than caravans - it is home to literally hundreds of holiday homes as well as dozens more pitches for tourers.

But despite the proximity of neighbouring homes, we found the site - which nestles in the shadow of the National Savings Bank, home of Ernie and the Premium Bonds - surprisingly quiet, uncrowded and relaxing, despite visiting during a scorching weekend in May.

And just two minutes walk from our caravan was the peace and tranquility of the site's very own nature reserve, a haven for birds and wildlife accessible via a network of wheelchair and pram-friendly paths. Blackpool Tower dominates the skyline but the temptations of the town itself are countered by a good range of facilities on the park itself.

The FunWorks complex boasts the Splashzone - complete with a heated indoor swimming pool, baby pool, spa-pool, sauna, solarium and slide - extensive amusements and a gift shop with easy access to the site's three bars.

Other facilities include all-weather tennis courts, bowling greens, crazy golf, a large well-equipped outdoor play area, a chance to take part in organised team games and sports.

And on a more mundane level there's a launderette, telephones and hire shop which stocks everything from towels to vacuum cleaners and highchairs.

The Bradley Bear Club offers younger children a variety of fun and games while older youngsters can take part in a range of workshops covering DJing to puppeteering.

After dark, Marton Mere's Showbar offers nightly programmes of entertainment including cabaret, live music, bingo, comedy, discos, karaoke and competitions.

Our visit coincided with a professional performance from Time Machine, which took the audience back in time with the toe-tapping sounds of the '50s, '60s, and a Glamorous Granny contest, featuring the likes of Mavis from Rochdale, which was hugely entertaining even - and probably especially - for those without a grandmother in tow.

Youngsters are welcome to enjoy the Showbar entertainment alongside the grown-ups but for those wanting a short break from the kids the Sportsman's lounge with its satellite TV and pool table is adults only.

The holiday park certainly has enough going on to keep you on site for a good chunk of your stay.

But it also provides a perfect base from which to explore and enjoy Blackpool and its many attractions while being far enough out of town to provide an escape if they do become too much.

We thoroughly enjoyed our three-night stay, returning home refreshed, relaxed - despite being blessed with brilliant sunshine throughout the weekend, even Blackpool itself was surprisingly uncrowded - and with the compulsory sticks of Blackpool Rock.

And I came away from the break with altogether different images of caravanning than the ones I arrived with.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.