ONE pub is bowling over its customers with its latest form of entertainment.

The Brewers Arms, Thwaites Road, Oswaldtwistle, has introduced a full scale pub skittles lane which is thought to be the only one of it's kind in East Lancashire.

Landlady Sharon Mellor said: "We got the idea from a business card but when we discussed it with some of the locals we realised how much potential it could have. It is really good fun and everyone so far has had a brilliant time."

Despite being a popular game in south England, the game has yet to find it's niche along side darts and dominoes in the north.

The skittles lane only differs from ten-pin bowling in that it uses a rubber ball, and folds up to the size of a piano when it is not in use.

Sharon said: "We are really pleased with it and it's so good for parties of any kind. It has been really popular for children's parties because it is local, so much cheaper and there are no transport costs."

The lane is restricted to over eights but the function room can hold up to 180.

A full game would involve three rounds of skittles with the highest scoring member of each team playing a knock out skittle match to find a champion.

Open night for skittles is Tuesday evening for anyone to try their hand but the lane can be booked for functions.

The pub is also hoping to organise a special evening for fundraising for the 7-aside football team in a bid to fund a new sports kit.

Sharon said: "A lot of people think we mean table skittles rather than a full-sized lane so I am sure when the idea takes off we could be responsible for starting something big."