BOLTON shoppers will soon be taken for a ride -- courtesy of pedal power.

The town has taken delivery of two rickshaws which will shortly take to the roads to sweep weary shoppers off their feet.

But there is still one problem to address before they get the green light as Bolton, so far, does not have any rickshaw....DRIVERS.

Town centre bosses are unsure when the service will start.

The two rickshaws were brought to Bolton after travelling 4,500 miles from India.

Each one is controlled by a bicycle ridden by a rider while two passengers sit in a small compartment, sheltered from the rain by a canopy.

Drivers would be less lucky in a downpour, although Bolton town centre manager Karen Wheeldon said riders would be issued with a hat.

Shoppers, meanwhile, will able to travel by rickshaw for free along a vast route through t he town centre.

The service will run throughout the summer and become an integral part of Bolton life each year.

Town centre bosses are now looking to recruit drivers and are hoping students will find the proposition of riding along Bolton's roads an enticing one.

Mrs Wheeldon said: "We've meticulously planned the route so that it not only proves attractive to shoppers but is also easy to ride around.

Novelty

"Bolton is not a very hilly place but there were one or two routes which would have caused problems. We can't wait to get the service up and running."

The rickshaws made their debut in Bolton town centre last summer and the novelty transport proved to be very popular during a trial run in August 2000.

The initiative was a first for the North-west. They were the brainchild of Lorna Fulton, officer for town arts group Percent for Arts.

Six drivers will be recruited to allow for rests and training -- which takes a day -- will see employees go through a full cycling proficiency test.

The rickshaws are to be operated between fixed stops around the town centre and cannot be hailed like taxis.

Shopper Vera Tonge, aged 74, said: "They look very useful but I've never seen anything like it before. They would certainly save my legs."

Terence Edge, 49, added: "I can't imagine going on one myself but it's the kind of thing my 27-year-old daughter would love."

The rickshaw route is: Great Moor Street, Bradshawgate, Deansgate, Bridge Street, Corporation Street, Knowsley Street, Deansgate, Howell Croft North, Le Mans Crescent, Howell Croft South, Ashburner Street and Black Horse Street.