SCORES of soccer fans packed into a Bolton town centre pub to play their own indoor hi-tech version of the game.

Corks's in Bradshawgate became the first pub ever to hold a new game of virtual five-a-side football which its creators hope will be the next big thing in pub entertainment.

The lights were dimmed and the music was turned low as a 10ft computer screen was set up inside the pub, showing a pitch and players.

The different teams, from other local pubs and one from an underwear factory, shouted and cheered as if they were on the terraces of the Reebok Stadium as the players -- using remote controls similar to PlayStation keypads -- controlled the computer footballers.

The hi-tech game is like a highly-evolved version of table football, as the players can only move up and down their particular designated area of the pitch. But they can also rotate, kick a football and pass the ball over the head of a rival player. Players can also control how hard a football is kicked.

Whenever a player scores a goal, the computer shows an action replay and at the end of the match statistics detailing ball possession and missed shots are shown. The computer even picks out the man of the match.

Local businessman John Blackburn, the managing director of the MMM Group, based in Lower Bridgeman Street, has been involved in the development and distribution of the game, called Footballfivers.

He hopes to eventually set up a national league with prize money running into thousands of pounds.

Matthew Parish was one of the first people to have a go at the game. He said: "It was absolutely brilliant."