TWO men are hoping to become Bolton's answer to talent scouts Pete Waterman and Simon Cowell after setting up their own Pop Idol empire.

Tony Sabanskis and Scott Sheridan have hired a room at a Bolton recording studio and are offering their musical services to any budding pop stars who fancy producing a CD.

They will help the singer choose a backing track, record the song and package it in a CD for £15.

Future Will Youngs and Gareth Gateses will not even need to book time off work as the whole recording process can be completed in just an hour.

Tony, aged 28, from Breightmet, plays the keyboards and met 25-year-old Scott through their shared interest in dance music.

Scott, who is from Halliwell, has been working with Mo's Records in London on dance tracks, but is willing to turn his hand to producing all sorts of music for wannabe Bolton popstars.

Tony and Scott are expecting a diverse mix of singers to approach them for help and have already been in touch with a 16-year-old girl and a 46-year-old man hoping to make CDs.

They have also been approached by DJs hoping to record with them at the room they are renting from Ionian Studios, at Halliwell Industrial Estate.

Tony said: "We'd been thinking about doing something like this for ages, but the Pop Idol thing made us even more keen to organise it.

"There are lots of songs for people to choose from and they just sing in the same way as they would at karaoke over the backing track.

"We're expecting a real mix of ages and styles and are ironing out a few teething problems before we're up and running."

For further information, call Tony on 07931 698643.