BURNLEY'S multi-million pound Superbowl centre has been bought out by the biggest tenpin bowling group in the world.

The Finsley Gate bowling alley is one of five centres sold by present owners, Railtimes, to AMF Bowling for an undisclosed sum - bringing the group's total number of centres in the UK to 21.

The Burnley building was purpose built in the 1960s but became a MFI furniture salesroom after interest in bowling diminished. But a new bowling boom saw it re-open as Superbowl 2000 after a £2million refit in 1989 - 23 years after the original bowling alley closed down.

The fully-computerised 24-lane centre employed 60 staff and featured a restaurant, licensed bar and crech.

Larry Kehoe, managing director of AMF Bowling, which has its British headquarters in Coventry, said the acquisitions represented a major step forward for thew company, reflecting its strong belief in the vitality of the bowling industry.

He said it significantly increased the group's market share in the UK which had seen the number of bowling centres grow from 50 to 230 over the past 10 years.

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