EMERGENCY service bosses are back from a fact-finding trip Down Under to ensure the Commonwealth Games pass off safely.

Fire and ambulance chiefs travelled to Sydney to pick up tips from Olympic organisers to ready the region for the influx of athletes and spectators in two years' time.

Bolton will host the badminton during the Games at the new Bolton Arena at Middlebrook.

Some cycling events are to be based in the Rivington and Horwich area.

Divisional officer Dave Raymond, Swinton fire chief, was joined by Bury station officer Rick Warburton and Wigan and Leigh Fire Authority member Cllr John Lea.

Report

A report is now being prepared for discussion at a future Fire Authority meeting.

Mr Raymond said: "Sydney was a wonderful example of oganisation and they developed excellent contingency plans for public safety.

"We will learn valuable lessons from their experience. We always plan for the worst so we can prevent problems arising or have a robust system in place to respond.

"We need to identify additional risks and what extra equipment, facilities, procedures, personnel and training we need."

The team took recording equipment and cameras to prepare the report, which will help to formulate contingency pans with the other 999 services.

The trip included a two-day stop-over in Kuala Lumpur to study the Malaysian Fire Service's contingencies for the 1998 Games.

In Sydney, the team met with the Olympic planning and co-ordination team, Sydney's Minister for Emergency Services and New South Wales fire service.

Francis Dreniw, from Greater Manchester Ambulance Service, also travelled to Australia on the fact-finding mission.