IT is the bright red Manchester United shirt with "Ronaldo" on the back and the baseball cap that give it away - the young bowlers are here.

Crown green bowling, the traditional Northern sport of those in the evening of life, has found new fans. And, at the same time, helped turn around the fortunes of one local bowling club.

Three years ago, Kearsley Park veterans' bowling club was plagued by vandalism.

Local teens nightly gathered under the club's terraced canopy, leaving a legacy of drugs, discarded needles and rubbish each morning. Damage to the clubhouse and greens were common occurrences.

So, members of the 78-year-old club decided to try something radical. They invited local youngsters to join them, and give the sport a try.

Now, with support from police, councillors, Leisure Services, and cash help from the Lottery and Bolton Council for Voluntary Service, the result is a revitalised club.

"Having a junior section has opened a lot of doors for us," commented club secretary Mrs Edith Wadley.

She has been a driving force in encouraging local youngsters and in getting the coaching qualifications to teach them.

Today, the club has around 60 adult members and 20 juniors, ranging in age from eight to 16.

The greens are in pristine condition surrounded by brightly painted boards and behind metal fences. The clubhouse has been improved and altered, and attractive pots of flowers outside are evidence of the pride taken there.

And, while the senior members still enjoy these pleasant facilities six days a week, on Sunday afternoons between 2pm and 4pm, it's the turn of the juniors.

Eleven year-old Ben Perrin and his sister Robyn, aged 13, don't have far to go to enjoy a game - their home overlooks the club.

"I used to watch people bowling and think it must be dead boring," said Ben, who becomes a George Tomlinson School pupil in September.

"But when I tried bowling I realised there was a lot more to it. I can change pegs now, and recognise the different standards of skill."

Ben also plays football, but says that while that improves his soccer skills and running ability, bowling "improves your hand-eye co-ordination - and it's fun!"

Added Robyn: "My best friend plays here as well but other friends think it's 'biddy bowling', just for old people. They should have a try because they'd find out it's great."

Lewis Oliver, from Farnworth, is the youngest member of the bowling section at eight ("but I'm nine next week"). The St Peter's Primary School pupil came to Kearsley Park with his grandad, Mr Ernest Thorpe, to try his hand at bowling.

Lewis liked it straight away, although he said:

"It's very hard sometimes, and you can't always win." He really enjoys the junior section and says: "It's a great way to make friends." Sarah Taylor, aged 11, from Harper Green, used to come to Kearsley Park with her dad, Mr Jim Taylor, who bowls for the club's B team.

"The bowls looked a bit heavy to me, but when we got the lighter ones it was OK," she said.

Simon Biggar, also 11, had been playing the sport for only a few weeks when he reached the quarter-finals in the Junior and Youth Merit Championships held in Bolton's Moss Bank Park this month.

And Michel Barker, also aged 11, who lives in Kearsley, thought he was going to be 10-pin bowling when he first came: "But this is really good."

Mrs Wadley is keen to encourage other clubs to start junior sections. "The clubs really would benefit more than they realise," she said.

As for the youngsters themselves, junior cool usually masks appreciation of adult help, but Ben Perrin voiced the junior bowlers' feelings.

"We're very grateful for all the help from Edith and the other members who have coached and helped us," he said.

Juniors who might like to try the sport, and bowling clubs interested in setting up a junior section, are invited to an open day at Kearsley Park bowling club in Thomas Moore Close, Kearsley on Sunday, August 22 from 1pm to 4pm. For more details, contact Edith Wadley on 01204-574405.