A SPECIAL edition of BBC TV's Songs of Praise is to be filmed in Bolton's Victoria Square on Sunday -- and organisers are hunting for people to help to create a colourful finale by flying the flag for the Commonwealth.

The special edition of the TV programme, entitled Commonwealth Praise, is to be broadcast across the nation on the Sunday before the start of the Commonwealth Games -- July 21.

And to round off the service, the flags of the 54 nations taking part will be paraded into the square to the rousing hymn "Thine Be The Glory."

Ideally, organisers would like each flag to be carried this Sunday by people living in Bolton who have a connections with the particular country represented by the flag, but anyone can apply to take part.

"It could even be someone whose aunt, uncle or grandad moved there," said Norma Rutherford from Bolton Council.

People have already been found to bear the flags of Pakistan, Jamaica, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Uganda, India, Australia, Guyana, Sri Lanka, the Seychelles, Cyprus and Scotland, but more are needed to represent the other nations.

A former Mayor of Bolton, Campbell Benjamin, will carry the flag of Antigua.

"The parade of flags will be a spectacular sight which I am sure people will look back on with pride," said Cllr John Byrne, Bolton Council's executive member for the Commonwealth Games.

Anyone interested needs to be able to take part in a rehearsal on Saturday evening and the event on Sunday, which begins at 3pm. For more details contact Norma on Bolton 332000.

John Forrest, who has the task of producing the show says it is going to be a very special occasion more than 4,000 people expected to turn up and take part.

All 1,800 seats for the event have already been sold and anyone else is welcome to turn up and stand for free.

The programme will be jointly hosted by TV favourite Pam Rhodes and the Superintendent Minister at Victoria Hall, the Rev Phil Mason.

Music will be provided by the Smithills School Senior Brass Band and a choir of over 300 local children and there will be an international contribution from the dancers and drummers of African group Osagyefo.

Wanderers' mascot Lofty the Lion and the Commonwealth Games mascot Kit will be on hand to encourage the crowd into a Manchester Wave -- a local version of the Mexican Wave and keeping control of the whole even will be Bromley Cross based conductor Nigel Swinford.

Rev Mason admitted he was nervous about appearing in in front of millions of people via their TV screens but added it was a "marvellous opportunity" to show the rest of the country our town and share the Christian message.