THE Commonwealth Games are drawing closer and something is brewing in Bolton.

John Feeney, the owner of Bank Top Brewery on Back Lane, has been asked by Bolton Council to brew two new beers especially for the occasion -- and it promises to be thirsty work.

The celebratory tipples, to be brewed in honour of the badminton and cycling events being held in the town, will be on sale in pubs from March to August next year.

Mr Feeney, who has owned the brewery for six years, says he is looking forward to mixing up a secret recipe but is leaving the naming of the beers to the public.

BEN readers have the chance to get involved in the Games celebrations by thinking up two names with either a cycling or badminton theme.

Mr Feeney said: "I will be brewing the beers in February. I haven't thought up the recipe yet, but it shouldn't prove too difficult. Brewing beer is a bit like cooking, once you know how to do it, it is easy and you can play around with it."

The first pints will be pulled in The Howcroft Inn before being distributed to over 50 pubs in the Bolton area.

Bolton is hosting four of the 17 Commonwealth Games events in 2002: badminton, mountain biking, cycling road race and cycling time trials.

Examples of possible names include Shuttlecock, Over the net, Pedal Power and Old Crank.

Not only will the winners' beers be brewed and named, they will also win a meal for themselves and a guest at The Wright's Arms, Belmont, and will meet some mystery VIP guests.

Mr Feeney said: "I think the competition will go down well, especially as there is a great prize involved."

There are now less than 241 days to go before the start of the biggest sporting event ever staged in the UK. More than 5,000 athletes from 72 nations will be arriving in the North-west, together with 4,000 officials and an estimated one million visitors.

Send your entries by post to: Bolton Evening News, Bank Top Beer Competition, Promotions, Newspaper House, Churchgate, Bolton, BL1 1DE.

Or e-mail: Chris Sudlow, Internet Editor on:

csudlow@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk

with name, address and contact telephone number