SOCCER fans are to get the chance to play the beautiful game without getting their boots dirty. A big screen five-a-side computer game which 10 people can play at once is coming to Bolton this week and could soon be in pubs across the borough.

Local businessman John Blackburn has been involved in the development and distribution of the game, called Football5ers.

His company MMM Group, based on Lower Bridgeman Street, was set up in 1990 to cash in on the karaoke boom and he believes the football game is the next big thing in pub entertainment.

Managing director Mr Blackburn, aged 59, said: "This is a very exciting time for us -- it feels like the early days of karaoke all over again.

"We have harnessed wireless technology and our 10 player interactive entertainment system is so easy to use that any pub with a big screen is sure to want to participate in our new football league and profit from increased trade."

He thinks pub companies and landlords -- always eager to boost business with activities such as darts, pool, karaoke and quizzes -- will jump at this new opportunity.

Portugal-born Joe Zarro, who owns Cottons and Corks's on Bradshawgate, is an early convert.

He is organising 16 teams of five people for a full-scale test exercise in Corks's on Wednesday night.

All the players have controls to direct an individual footballer on the big screen in games which can be played from two to 10 minutes each way.

Winners play towards a final which takes place at the end of a session which can last about two and a half hours.

Computer software processes information which appears on the screen to give statistics and information about individual performances.

Prizes worth £400 will be available during the Corks evening.

"I am confident that this will do well -- it will be fun," said Mr Zarro.

If it is successful, Mr Blackburn hopes to set up leagues nationally and in regions and towns.

There is a dedicated internet link -- www.mmm.co.uk/footballfivers.