ROGUE street traders selling unlicensed Commonwealth Games memorabilia are to be outlawed in Bolton.

Police and council chiefs are drawing up detailed maps of where licensed traders will be allowed to sell souvenirs and refreshments when the high-profile Games get under way.

Fly-by-night street sellers will be stopped from plaguing crowds of sports fans.

Cllr Don Eastwood, chairman of Bolton Council's licensing committee, said he does not blame people for wanting to earn money from the thousands of spectators expected at the local events.

But he believes the new rules are necessary to protect the public from exploitation.

It means the council will charge between £60 and £100 for anyone wanting to sell on the streets on Games days in July and August. Cllr Eastwood said: "We want as many people to come to Bolton as possible.

"I can't blame people wanting to earn money but we do need to protect fans and regulate."

Traders wanting to sell T-shirts, posters or even hot dogs and chips on any of the crowd-pulling days will have to produce a licence from Bolton Council. The extra eight-day licence will cost £100.

Traders will also have to reveal the type of goods they want to sell and the prices they wish to sell them at.

Established traders will need proof that they have been on their pitch for longer than 26 weeks.

Thousands are expected to converge on Rivington for the cycling time trials on July 27, the mountain bike race on July 29 and the cycling road race on August 3.

People will not be allowed to sell on streets west of the A666 to the junction with the A58 (Crompton Way) on the dates of the Commonwealth Games.