RESTAURANT owners, pub landlords and shopkeepers in Horwich are looking forward to a Games cash bonanza over the next 10 days.

Up to 60,000 people are expected to visit the area to watch the badminton events, which are being held at the Bolton Arena, and the cycling events at Rivington.

One pub says it will be taking on four times its usual number of staffs on each of the days on which the cycling is taking place -- this Saturday, the following Monday and Saturday, August 3.

Trevor Millington, landlord of The Squirrel, on Bolton Road, Horwich, is already serving each day around 60 track marshalls and cyclists who are already on the scene and he expects hundreds more. He said: "I normally have seven members of staff on a Saturday, but this week I'm having 31 people in. My pub's right on the cycling route."

Gary Parker, 45-year-old landlord of The Crown, on Chorley New Road, Horwich, is taking on three extra staff.

His pub has been decorated with flowers and the flags of some of the 72 nations competing in the Games.

"The Games is going to be wonderful for the area," he said.

Hotel bookings are booming. De Vere Whites at the Reebok Stadium, with 125 beds, says it is already 90 per cent full. The Holiday Inn in Horwich is two-thirds full and packed with the media, including the BBC. TV technicians will also be using the Last Drop.

An estimated £30 million in total is expected to be spent in Bolton borough and much of that is believed to be heading towards Horwich and Rivington.

Pino Porcu, 45-year-old manager of the Max Max Italian restaurant in Lee Lane, Horwich, believes he will be serving as many as 30 extra customers each night.

He said: "The Games will be good for the town and we are getting ready for many new customers."

"We think there will be a lot of hungry people and we hope they will come to Horwich town centre." Papa Luigis, also in Lee Lane, and Greek restaurant Sokrates, on Winter Hey Lane, are preparing to extend their opening hours.