A STAGGERING quarter-of-a-million people have visited Bolton during the 10 days of the Commonwealth Games.

The huge number of spectators watching the sporting events at Rivington and the Bolton Arena could have filled the Reebok stadium an astonishing EIGHT times.

And games organisers believe that with the eyes of the world on Manchester and Bolton over the last 10 days -- the two areas will benefit for years to come from extra tourism and business.

In the centre of Manchester itself more than one million people have watched the competitions at the athletics stadium, aquatic centre and cycling arena.

Throughout the Games Manchester has been packed with crowds taking in the sights and enjoying the entertainment supplied by street entertainers.

And the City of Manchester Stadium will be full again on Sunday when a crowd bids farewell to Britain's biggest ever multi-sporting event in which is sure to be a spectacular closing ceremony.

Manchester has obviously taken centre stage for the Games, but civic leaders and business chiefs in Bolton are in no doubt that the town has also benefited.

Horwich councillor Barbara Ronson, who watched the badminton at Bolton Arena and the cycling at Rivington, said: "It has been wonderful.

"People are now bound to spread the word that this is an area worth visiting."

An impressive 250,000 people will have visited the town by the end of Sunday when the badminton event at the Bolton Arena comes to an end.

Each day, around 9,000 turned up at Bolton Arena, split across the morning, afternoon and evening sessions.

A disappointing 15,000 people watched the time trials last Saturday but more than 50,000 turned up on the gloriously sunny Monday for the mountain bike race.

Another 50,000 people were expected in Rivington on Saturday and 10,000 more spectators snapped up badminton tickets for the last two days.

It has led to a bumper windfall for some businesses -- especially pubs -- in Horwich. Trevor Millington, landlord of The Squirrel, on Bolton Road, had to lay on four times as many staff for the cycling event.

He said: "Takings have definitely been up. It's been a good time for some of us."

Meanwhile, ticketless fans have been descending on Manchester's squares to watch events live on huge screens.

It has been a bonanza for merchandise, too, as spectators formed long queued to pick up a souvenir of the Games.

Jackie Brock-Doyle, communications director for the event, said: "It was brilliant to see people turn out for the great sporting events that were happening around the city and just as heartening to see them watch on the big screens in Exchange Square and Piccadilly Gardens. The city was buzzing.

"We hope that the up-beat attitude continues even after the Games finish. The North-west has a lot to offer."