GRANDFATHER Ernie Barker achieved the ambition of all tenpin bowlers - and knocked off 12 consecutive strikes!

Demon bowler Ernie, 55, of Clifton Street, Rishton, achieved the 300 points maximum to become the new record holder at AMF Bowling, Burnley.

"I am absolutely delighted! I am still on a high," he said.

Ernie, a machine operator for a carpet firm at Preston, is a keen all-round sportsman and took up bowling again five years ago after work forced him to give up playing golf.

He was playing in a league doubles match with partner Pete Glenister, of Blackburn, when the strikes just kept coming.

He had scored eight strikes once before, but had failed on the ninth. Wife Karen was there to support him but she couldn't bear to watch. "When he bowled his last ball I had my hands over my eyes," she said.

Ernie, a grandfather of six and a foster parent, bowls at Burnley three times a week, including the Tuesday league sponsored by Doorstep Fresh.

Karen said: "He got a new bowling ball about four months ago and he kept saying it wouldn't do what he wanted it to.

Now he's really got it together."

The last time 300 was achieved at the former Superbowl was eight years ago.

The current Burnley AMF record holder was Andy Constantine, of Burnley, who scored 298 three weeks ago.

Assistant manager Linda Haworth said: "Ernie is such a nice man and we are going to make a special presentation to him."

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