A SPECIAL version of BBC1's popular Songs of Praise is to be filmed in Bolton -- to celebrate the Commonwealth Games.

The service, called "Commonwealth Praise", will be filmed in Victoria Square on Sunday, July 7.

More Than Gold, a group of Greater Manchester churches, has organised the event with the BBC and Bolton Council.

Parishioners and clergymen from more than 130 churches will take part in the service.

The Rev Phil Mason, of Bolton's Victoria Hall Methodist Mission, who will be co-ordinating the service, said: "There is a great deal happening in Greater Manchester before and during the Commonwealth Games. It's great that we have managed to get this event in Bolton."

The programme will be transmitted on BBC1 on a day just before the start of the Games on July 25, and the accompanying line-up will feature music from Smithills School Brass Band, whose musical director is Chris Wormald, Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year 2002.

The event, taking place between 3pm and 5pm, will be hosted by Pam Rhodes and will include celebrity interviews with people involved in the Games.

There are 4,000 places available for the event, with limited seating. Tickets are priced at £2 and are on sale from the Town Hall ticket office.

Mr Mason said: "I have performed a service before 13,000 people before, so 4,000 doesn't seem too bad. I'll have to put to the back of my mind the fact that there will be millions watching on their televisions at home."