COMMONWEALTH Games organisers signalled the one year countdown to next summer's sporting event with a huge party in Bolton today.

Hundreds of people gathered in Victoria Square to mark the occasion.

A number of sporting personalities, including badminton player Chris Hunt, mountain biker Paul Holden and Olympic swimmer Anthony Howard, were there.

And 365 balloons were released, each one symbolising the days left before the showpiece event kicks off.

The Commonwealth Games will be the largest sporting event yet to be held in Britain with 72 competing nations congregating in Greater Manchester.

Bolton will play host to four events. Badminton will be played at Bolton Arena while road cycling and time trials take place in Horwich.

Mountain biking will be held in Rivington.

An estimated TV audience of 1.5 billion is expected to tune in during the 10 day event, which will run from July 25 to August 4, 2002.

Cherrie Pickers provided Caribbean music in Victoria Square, followed by Dance Fusion and jazz from the Bolton Music Centre. Tribute bands Step-tacular and Boy2One also appeared.

In Central Manchester, the event was marked by an abseil down Portland Tower on Portland Street.

The building sports a large yellow banner with the Commonwealth Games logo.

The official event was held in Trafalgar Square, London, with Lisa Rogers, girlfriend of Bury actor Ralf Little overseeing proceedings.

Full coverage of Bolton's event will be in tomorrow's Bolton Evening News.