THE scene looks more like Bombay than Bolton.

But believe it or not, colourful contraptions will become a welcome sight for weary town centre shoppers from next week.

Three rickshaws have made a bizarre journey from India, via Oldham, to end up at a base in the Market Place.

For the next few weeks they will operate a free service between fixed stops to carry weighed-down shoppers across the town centre.

Bolton Town Centre Company, who are funding the idea which is a first for the North West, hope to extend the initiative next summer if it proves successful.

Lorna Fulton, officer for town arts group Percent For Art, admits reactions were sceptical when she first suggested the relaxing rickshaw rides to the Town Centre Company.

"Everybody laughed and said it sounded a bit mad but we've had great support for it," she said. "It's the only way to travel! It's environmentally friendly but more importantly it's also fun and unusual."

And having previously worked for Oldham Council, Lorna happened to know exactly where she could lay her hands on some redundant rickshaws.

Oldham had staged a rickshaw Grand Prix, to rival Bolton's popular Le Mans 24-hour kart race in the novelty stakes, several years ago.

These were originally imported from India, but have languished in storage for months. If this year's pilot project is a hit with shoppers, Bolton could buy its own vehicles.

The rickshaws will be operating in the town centre from Thursday, August 17 to mid-September.

Three men have been hired to pedal the rickshaws. They are being trained next Monday and Tuesday to ensure they can manoeuvre the cumbersome vehicles safely.

The rickshaws will only run between fixed stops and cannot be hailed like taxis. Each one can hold two people.

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, Black Horse Street.

Stops will be at: Market Place patio, Le Mans Crescent (at rear of town hall), Octagon Court, Great Moor Street (at top of Back Cheapside) and Nelson Square.

The riders' equipment is being sponsored by Sports Soccer of Crompton Place.