BOLTON is heading for a £30 million Commonwealth Games cash bonanza, the Bolton Evening News can reveal.

The vast majority of the cash will be brought in by tourism with more than 500,000 visitors expected to descend on Bolton during the 10-day sporting extravaganza.

On July 25 - as Bolton once again decided to go for city status - the town launched its Commonwealth Games countdown with businesses and traders urged to cash in.

The town is also favourite to hold a lucrative trade exhibition - a money spinner held during the Games - which could eventually bring a wealth of investment to the Bolton area.

Tourism is expected to be boosted for more than two years after the closing ceremony, following the same trend set by Victoria in Australia when it held the 1994 Games.

And experts at Bolton's Commonwealth Games office, Team 2002, believe numerous repeat visits to Bolton over the 10-day period will generate a multi-million pound bonanza with each visitor, on average, spending £168

each.

Pete Bradshaw, who heads Bolton Team 2002, said: "Around a million people are expected to come to Greater Manchester for the games.

"We expect half that number will journey to Bolton and even then we are making a conservative estimate - it could be many more."

The town kicked off the one year countdown to the Games yesterday with a

huge event in Victoria Square.

Bolton will be hosting four events: Badminton at Bolton Arena, road cycling and time trials at Horwich and mountain biking in Rivington.

But there will also be a host of festivals and concerts around the town with Moss Bank Park and Moses Gate hot favourites to host events.

Up to 1.5 billion television viewers will watch the games during the 10-day period from July 25 to August 4, 2002.

Mr Bradshaw said: "Exposure like this comes perhaps once in a given lifetime. We have to capitalise on it."