It’s enough to make Scrabble fans all over the land lay down a few choice four-letter words of their own. That’s right, the makers of Scrabble have only gone and changed the rules after nearly 70 years.

Mattel, the owners of the game are clearly not happy with having sold over 150 million sets across the world so they have decided to try and “tart up” the world’s most popular board game and bring it kicking and screaming into the 21st Century.

The new rules mean that names like Beyonce (14 points) and Shakira (14 points) will now be acceptable words, because places, celebrities and company names – “capitalised words” as Scrabblers are referring to them – will be allowed from July onwards.

Rumour has it that the company is even considering allowing words to be spelt backwards, upwards and to be placed on the board without joining onto another word – and no, April 1 was last week.

“They are just tarting up the game and I don’t think Scrabble people will be happy with these changes,” says Mauro (7 points) Pratesi (9 points), serious Scrabble (14 points) player and chairman of the London (7 points) Scrabble League.

“We have a book of all the words that can be used – it’s called the dictionary. If it’s in there then it is a real word.”

Mr Pratesi isn’t the only Scrabble enthusiast to register their disappointment at the changes and state their intention to continue playing with the old rules.

However, there is a modicum of comfort for traditional Scrabble fans from the game’s manufacturer, Mattel (8 points).

“Obviously some people will want to continue playing the old rules so we will still be selling a board with the original rules,” said a Mattel spokeswoman.

“The layout, colour of the board, rules and the game itself have remained unchanged for over 60 years. These changes are the biggest news for Scrabble lovers in the history of the game and will provide a great new twist on the old formula.

“We believe the changes will enable younger players and families to get involved.”

Mattel aren’t the only board game manufacturer that have tried to spice up the long standing version of their game in recent years.

Hasbro, the makers of Monopoly, released editions of the game for various towns and cities back in 2007, including Bournemouth.

Top spot on the board went to Bournemouth Pier, which occupies the square usually associated with Mayfair. Sandbanks features in the second most prestigious square but there are a number of surprises scattered around the rest of the board. The Daily Echo features three times as the Community Chest, with Chance squares occupied by three local radio stations.

Green squares are occupied by Frizzell House, Bournemouth University and St Peter’s Road and yellow by Christchurch Road, Westover Road and Exeter Road.

The Bournemouth Eye, Tower Park and Bournemouth Airport are featured in red, Old Christchurch Road, the Dolphin Centre and Castlepoint in orange and Dean Court, Poole Harbour and West Quay Road in pink.

The five remaining coloured squares are taken up by Alum Chine, the Upper and Lower Gardens, Hengistbury Head and Brownsea Island.

Bournemouth Tourism, the town's train stations, zig zags and water companies complete the board.