MORE than 20 local pool players have this week been plying their trade against some of the world's top names at the Commonwealth Games.

Local pool enthusiast Don Mills of Toon Crescent, Bury, has organised an exhibition of the game as a demonstration sport in the hope that it will become a part of the Games in years to come.

Over three days the cream of the pool world are giving exhibitions of the game in the very heart of the athletes village.

The two hour shows are being compered by Mr Mills and just a few of the star performers include: Paul Sullivan who is in the Guiness Book of Records for his exploits at speed pool; world champion Steve Webster; Welsh champion Wayne Smith, England captain Malcolm Lewis and world junior champion Ben Davies.

Also on view has been French star Sebastian Farcy who is an honorary 'Ramsbottom lad' for the duration of the Games!

Mr Mills, who has been assisted by his former UK junior champion son, Martin said: "It's a great honour to be able to take our sport to the Games and we hope that it will be taken up by many of the nations that will be competing.

"Around 5,000 athletes have had the opportunity to try their hand at the sport and the world championships at Bridlington rescheduled some of their events so the best players in the world can help us in this initiative."

The exhibition matches are played strictly to BAPTO rules which are an updated version of the rules used in the local Bury and Radcliffe Leagues since they were founded in the mid 1970s.

And, according to Mr Mills, who had played locally for 27 years and managed town, county and national teams, they have received a great deal of interest from their captured audience.

"Athletes from as far afield as Australia, Canada and Malawi took part in the sessions and a Cook Islands official from the Olympic committee showed great interest.

"We are trying to promote pool as a sport that can be enjoyed by people the world over and also demonstrate the therapeutic value of the game."

Mr Mills, who founded Bury's only independant mental health charity some years ago has long stressed the important of the game in helping patients recover and get back into the community.

Among the local players who have been taking part in the demonstrations are: Steven Twist, Lawrence Hardman, Garry Hall, Karl Hardman and Phil Hindle (Stopes Tavern, Radcliffe); Phil Hughes and Paul Howcroft (Staff of Life, Radcliffe) and Pete Hodge (Edenfield Con Club).

The final exhibition session is scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday).