HOW much does it cost to have a a bit of a giggle in Bolton?

According to a group of builders, the answer is 50p.

Workmen who are renovating the famous jewellers Preston's of Bolton, at the junction between Deansgate and Churchgate, glued a 50p coin to the pavement outside the shop and watched passers-by who fell for their trick.

The workmen came up with the idea of sticking a coin to the pavement during one of their breaks and were amazed how many people bent down to try to pick it up.

The coin was put in place last Tuesday and caught the eye of hundreds of people of all ages.

Lee Thornton, who is the personal assistant to the head of construction, said they had seen up to 60 people a day try to pick up the coin.

"The joke doesn't wear out it is funny every time someone tries to get the coin. It's the best fun you can have for 50p.

"We are usually busy working, but when we do see people we cheer and that embarrasses them.

"But no one has got angry. Most people just see the funny side of the joke.

"We saw one old lady who said she tried to pick it up for a charity box she keeps at home, and one man tried to kick it when he had flip flops on and ended up stubbing his toe.

"We have seen small children try to pick it up and they look really gutted when they find it is stuck down.

"We have to remove it every night and then stick it back down the next day, because someone would probably come along with a chisel and ruin the fun."

Irene Hornby, aged 54, of Derby Street, Daubhill, was one of the many who fell for the trick.

"I spotted the coin and it is a natural reaction to try and pick it up. I was a bit suspicious because I wondered why the builders hadn't picked it up already. I can see the funny side of it."

Another shopper, who was too embarrassed to be named, said: "It's 50p and, when I saw it, I thought why not pick it up? Every little helps."