They can't sell enough herbal versions of Viagra BOLTON has limped in last in a survey of users of a "sex" pill.

Fewer men use Duro - branded as the herbal version of Viagra - in the town than anywhere else in Britain.

And it's also one of the worst places in the world.

Puzzled bosses at Duro aren't sure why. They say Bolton men musn't get the urge as much as other people.

However, when the BEN asked a selection of Bolton folk they said it was because they simply didn't need a pick-me-up.

The product which is sold over the Internet has become hugely popular all over the globe but for some reason Bolton is lagging behind.

It's designed for people who have sexual health problems but many people take it just to spice up life in the bedroom. But Simon Campbell, of S&R Global, the Internet company responsible for it, said: "In the case of Bolton it seems people don't want to give their love life a boost."

In the survey of more than 300,000 Duro buyers, Cardiff was easily the country's top consumer, followed by Glasgow and Southend.

Bolton finished bottom by a long way, giving it the title of the UK's Worst Libido Hot Spot.

Duro - which is made of eight aphrodisiac herbs from China - has been on sale for a year and is supposed to give users a huge boost. It is claimed to be the herbal version of the Viagra drug, which hit the market in 1998.

Herbal expert Stuart Fitzsimmons, from Cardiff, said: "The herbs in it are potent aphrodisiacs and sexual stimulants for both men and women. The main action of the herbs is to restore basic constitutional strength and energy."

And he clained: "People taking it regularly will find their endurance and energy levels slowly increasing, and this helps us not only last longer in bed but helps us party longer and recover faster."

Bolton doctor, Eric Curless, a leading expert in sexual health and one of the principal investigators into Viagra, said he had no idea why Bolton came last. But he did have his doubts about the actual physical affects of taking such herbal drugs.

Dr Curless, who runs a successful sex health clinic on Chorley New Road, said: "A sexual health problem, such as problems getting an erection, is always primarily a physical problem and I have seen no scientific evidence that herbal medicine actually physically works.

"However, there is an important secondary physiological factor and we can never underestimate that."

Meanwhile Bolton men were amazed at the results.

Paul Mintram, from Tonge Fold, said: "I don't need to take any drugs for that kind of thing. It's not that Bolton people don't get the urge, we just don't need it."

The worldwide sales figures show America to be the 'hottest' country with President Clinton's home town of Hot Springs being that country's top consumer.

Australia is second, Germany third and Britain a respectable fourth.

France and Italy, two countries renowned for their passion, don't even make the Top Ten.