IN the second phase of Commonwealth Games' ticket sales 40,000 tickets were sold in the first 24 hours of the 400,000 available via live telephone and internet sales.

The Games official web site recorded a peak of 150 hits per second which equates to over 500,000 per hour and the requests were flooding in at a faster rate than for the recent U2 and Madonna tours and the England v Greece World Cup qualifying game last October.

There are still plenty of opportunities to witness the largest multi-sport event ever staged in the UK. To purchase tickets, log on to www.commonwealthgames.com or phone 0870 162 2002.

Frances Done, Chief Executive of M2002 Ltd, said: "The unprecedented demand for tickets is solid proof that the nation is fully behind the Commonwealth Games and wants to be a part of it.

"There is no doubt this is going to be the most exciting and spectacular sports event this country has ever seen. With sell-out crowds, the atmosphere will be tremendous."