HOME owners across Glasgow are desperate to cash in on next year's Commonwealth Games.

Many hope to strike gold by renting out their properties when hundreds of thousands of visitors descend on the city for the 11-day sports extravaganza.

Businessman Mark Hanlon today appealed for patience after the Evening Times told how he was searching for 200 suitable homes for short term lets.

The co-founder of Commonwealth Letting voiced fears that reluctant city home owners would lose out on a golden opportunity to cash in on what's shaping up to be the greatest Games ever.

Last week's article triggered a stampede when we also told how one man is being paid £5000 to rent out his five-bedroomed home in King's Park.

Mr Hanlon revealed: "The response has been unbelievable since the article was published. We're having difficulty getting back to people. Every time we empty our inbox it's full two hours later.

"We had to bring in an IT guy to give our email site more memory.

"We then had to get him back to give us even more memory such has been the response. I've never known anything like it.

"I really thought the people of Glasgow weren't buying into the whole letting thing. Not now.

"They have got the message big time and the way things are we'll easily meet our quota of 200 homes.

"That was the figure wanted by one international federation. But the more we have on our books the more chance we have of persuading other federations to sign up.

"We have literally been snowed under with hundreds and hundreds of applications. People are emailing us and sending us pictures and they are also phoning us.

"We are struggling to get back to them all.

"But we would ask people to be patient. We will get back to them. They are all on our list which we are working through but it will take time.

"The responsible has been quite incredible.

"We have interest from home owners across Glasgow and elsewhere, such as Howwood, Erskine and Johnstone in Renfrewshire. We've even had inquiries from Greenock.

"We are so pleased. Not only are people sending us their details but they are even getting their friends to apply too.

"It's just taken off in the last eight days. We are really very, very grateful to the Evening Times. Talk about the power of the media?"

The most in-demand properties are within 20 minutes of the city's 12 Games venues

There's still time to put your home forward, by emailing www.commonwealthletting.co.uk.

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk