PARISHIONERS at a Shuttleworth church have been bowled over after receiving a £3,000 lottery grant.

St John's Church is launching a new indoor bowls club, based in the Old School Hall in Whalley Road, to provide the perfect afternoon entertainment for rainy autumn days and to allow members of the community the opportunity to meet new people.

The church applied for the lottery grant to help buy a range of new equipment for the club including two 45ft indoor mats, complete with handling equipment, and four full sets of bowls in various sizes to suit all players.

To celebrate the funding, which came in the same week as the Bishop of Manchester, Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, visited the church in Leeches Road, the club will be holding an open night at the Old School Hall on November 9 to welcome anyone interested in becoming a new member.

Fees will be £10 for full membership and £5 concessionary. Bowling charges will be £1 per hour for members and £2 for non-members.

The club plans to hold bowling sessions on Wednesday and Friday afternoons but this may be extended to other days and weekends if there is sufficient demand.

News of the grant has been welcomed by the vicar Rev Jeff Arcus. He said: "This great news will allow us to purchase the equipment we need to start up a brand new club open for all the community to use. We look forward to meeting with as many people as possible at the open night on November 9 to join up as new members."

The two-hour open night will start at 7pm and include a free buffet and drinks.