THE 2002 Commonwealth Games are coming and Bury is getting under starter's orders.

It may be still be over a year before athletes from 54 nations descend on Manchester, but with the clock ticking away, Bury is now beginning to swing its pre-Games planning into action.

A high powered task force is to be established in the Borough to drive local involvement and information about the Games is to be spread through a series of presentations.

The Borough also wants to be part of the Queen's Baton Relay which will begin on Commonwealth Day in March 2002 and will see the baton carried around every Commonwealth country in the world.

That will last for 100 days before it returns to the UK for a 50-day relay across the country.

In all, some 5,000 runners will have the honour of being involved. Town under Commonwealth Games starter's orders