BLACKBURN already has one big winner from next summer's Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Romers Electronics has taken the 'gold medal of the PA world' with a £500,000 contract to supply a full sound system at the state-of-the-art stadium currently being built for the event.

And after winning two more major contracts to install systems at Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion football clubs, the summer of 2001 has started well.

Managing director John Caton said: "The closed season promises to be a busy one and will further cement our position as the country's number one stadium sound system installers."

Company secretary of the family-owned business, Susan Caton, described the Commonwealth Games stadium contract as the most prestigious the company had won.

"The Commonwealth Games is a wonderful occasion and we're delighted to be involved," she said. "It is a massive project and we have been on site for about two months. We shall be working right up to the opening of the Games and will provide cover during the event.

"When it is over, we will be involved the the conversion of the stadium for use by Manchester City from the start of the 2003 football season."

Susan said four extra staff had been taken on to work on the Manchester stadium, taking the company's workforce to 17.

Romers' big breakthrough came with the contract to install a sound system when Ewood Park was redeveloped in the early 1990s.