ONE of the organisers of this year's Commonwealth Games has expressed his hope that the event will give a major boost to East Lancashire.

Dick Palmer, chairman of the independent Evaluation Team, set up to review the progress of the preparation for the games, said the event should provide a "lasting legacy" for the region.

The games Mountain Bike event is being held at a velodrome at Rivington, near Chorley.

Mr Palmer, who is a former secretary general to the British Olympic Association, said: "I am sure that the games will be a success, not just in terms of medals but also in terms of general culture.

"Hopefully they will give a boost to sport and bring benefits to some areas like East Lancashire which have some difficult social conditions.

"The benefits of these games will give people in the region a massive lift and provide a lasting legacy which will continue to lift sport and other recreational activities throughout the North West."

A marketing team has already been launched to promote the whole of the North West as a tourist destination to visitors watching the Commonwealth Games which take place in Manchester between July 25 and August 4.

The 2002 North West Tourism Hub Team's brief is to make the most of the games taking place in Manchester this summer.

They will attempt to raise awareness of the area nationally and internationally to attract thousands of visitors to the region.

The games will be the largest multi-sporting event ever to be staged in the UK with an estimated TV audience of 1bn.