A POSSE of Commonwealth Games experts will be set up in Bolton to make sure businesses cash in on the great sporting spectacle.

Bolton Council is setting up the group in a bid to make the town's business community take every opportunity to promote themselves during the games.

The council has already been bombarded with questions by anxious business folk hoping to make the most of the games.

The team of advisers, which is being set up next month, will work closely with business organisations such as the Bolton and Bury Chamber.

Badminton and the cycling road races, time trials and mountain biking will all be held in Bolton for the 2002 Games.

The badminton will be at Bolton's stunning new £15 million Arena nearing completion at Middlebrook and the cycling will all be in the Rivington area with the headquarters at Rivington and Blackrod High School.

The council and the chamber have already been involved in a series of meetings with businesses large and small, community leaders and tourism officials.

Bolton Council leader Cllr Bob Howarth stressed that though the games are still more than a year away, it is vital to start work now.

Cllr Howarth said: "The Commonwealth Games are the world's second largest sporting spectacle after the Olympics and Bolton is playing a major part.

"It is estimated there will be one million visitors over a three week period. They will be staying throughout the Greater Manchester area, but many will want to stay in Bolton area where so much of the action is.

"Bolton will be seen throughout the world during more than 130 hours of TV coverage. There are 72 countries coming to the games and we know already that 34 nations will have teams in the mountain biking at Rivington.

"The games motto is 'Count Yourself In' and that is exactly what we are going to do in Bolton."