BRAINY Bolton people have a chance to prove they are tops when it comes to the grey matter - and have a chuckle at the same time.

The Bolton Evening News is sponsoring the Lancashire Quiz Challenge in association with BBC local radio stations, Radio Lancashire and GMR.

And Lancashire's answer to Magnus Magnusson, our own quizmaster Norman Prince, will host the shows which will be broadcast on the two radio stations.

So if you know the year of the famous White Horse cup final, or what the capital of Peru is, you could be a winner!

The quiz is open to teams of four - eight from the Bolton area. Teams can be from pubs, works, clubs - anyone who wants to have a go.

The venues will be decided between competing teams on a draw basis and whoever's name comes out of the hat will stage the recordings.

Venues can be pubs, sports centres, church halls - and the more who turn out to support the teams the merrier according to Norman.

"We have had some very small venues, but it creates an atmosphere, which is what it is all about."

Norman, the former front man for Houghton Weavers and now a radio personality, calls the quizzes: "Chuckles and Challenges" and added: "It gives the man in the street a chance to be on the radio and have fun at the same time."

The eight teams will be chosen from a hat and will then be contacted by Norman to arrange venues and recording dates. The first show will go out on air in mid June and then every Saturday lunchtime with the final in September.

There will be eight rounds to each quiz, including Bells and Buzzers, individual rounds, a sound round and a guess the year round.

It will be a knock out competition with winning teams going into a head to head final in September. The grand winners will receive a trophy - to prove they are the best.

But we will not be forgetting Bolton Evening News readers. If you cannot make any of the recordings, we will be printing some of Norman's top questions on a weekly basis.

Steve Hughes, Editor of the Bolton Evening News, said: "We know from the response we get to our quiz page on Saturdays just how popular this will be. It sounds like great fun and I am sure there will be a lot of competition for places."

To enter, send the details of your team - four names and the area you are representing with contact details - to Lancashire Quiz Challenge, Lynn Ashwell, Assistant Editor, Bolton Evening News, Churchgate, Bolton, BL1 1DE, by Friday, May 31. E-mail: lynna@boltoneveningnews.co.uk

Teams chosen to take part will be notified.