SPORTS fans can whet their appetite for the Commonwealth Games by visiting an exhibition dedicated to athletes.

Sculptures and photographs are on display at Turton Tower to show the heroic nature of sportsmen and women.

They have been gathered from a range of museum collections from across the North-west.

Among them are pictures from acclaimed photographers Anderson and Low. The pair have been showcasing their work in an exhibition called The Athlete, which has been touring the world.

It made its debut in Malaysia's National Gallery for the Commonwealth Games before moving on to the Portrait Gallery in Australia for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

And for the Turton Tower exhibition -- Go Freeze -- they have handed over some of their most famous images.

A spokesman said: "It's a unique chance to look at athletes in a different way. The exhibition captures them in the middle of a movement and goes some way to explaining why we admire sports people so much."

Almost all of the subjects are athletes who have taken part in previous Games events or are going to be in Manchester this summer.

The Commonwealth Games runs from July 25 to August 4. Badminton takes place at Bolton Arena while the cycling events will be held in Rivington.