All seats on 14 trains from Edinburgh and Glasgow to Preston have sold out ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Cup Final between Rangers and Zenit St Petersburg.

Around 5,500 of the expected 100,000 Glaswegian army will travel by train and will have to change at Preston – with many more staying overnight in the city as hotels across Manchester are fully booked.

One business leader said it could pump as much as £500,000 into the city's economy.

The true number of fans heading to the city will be far more than that, however, as thousands more are expected to cram into standing areas of the trains on the day and yet more will drive in to take up spaces in hotels before the big match, being played at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Police are expecting a friendly invasion, but British Transport Police (BTP) cover at Preston, Lancaster and Blackpool will be doubled on the day of the game.Extra officers will also be patrolling Preston city centre.

Pub bosses in Preston say they are expecting to be packed throughout the build-up to the game, although some are still not sure whether they will allow fans in.

Graham Eyles, barman at the Old Vic, Fishergate – one of the pubs closest to the railway station – said they have arranged for extra staff.

But he added: "The landlord has not yet made his mind up whether we are going to open."

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