SPORTS fans across the world are signing up to a unique Bolton-based competition.

Punters try and guess the outcome of dozens of different sporting events to win the Bolton Prediction League.

It was started six years ago by Peter Morris, the then landlord of the Clifton Arms pub, Newport Street, and friends who wanted to make the World Cup competition more exciting.

Since then, the league has grown to include sports as varied as American football, rowing and horse racing and is now attracting players from as far away as Tenerife, Dubai and Australia.

Mr Morris said: "It started when we were watching the World Cup one year and had a competition to choose the winners and runners-up of each group.

"It's just snowballed from there and now we do all the major sporting events.

"A couple of ex-pats told their friends about it in Tenerife and Dubai and they have got their friends involved. We would like to see people join up from all over the world."

Mr Morris feeds the thousands of predictions from some 60 members into a computer system which calculates a complicated points system for an overall league as well as mini leagues for each sport.

The overall winner will net a jackpot of around £600, depending on how many enter this year.

Mr Morris, aged 64, said: "It is a bit of fun and it has got people looking at all sorts of sports results that they weren't interested in before."

Those wanting to join this year's competition need to contact Mr Morris by e-mail by September 4 and must have access to a fax machine or e-mail.

Entry is £10 and anyone interested should contact

Mr Morris at pete.morris@btopenworld.com

or by fax on 01204 309398.