A BOWLER from Bolton who describes himself as "a nutcase in a bandana" hopes his ten-pin toppling marathon will be a striking success.

Neil Kennedy plans to bowl consecutive games in all 26 lanes of the Hollywood Bowl at Middlebrook.

But while bosses at the Guide Dogs For The Blind Association -- for whom Neil is raising the cash -- are bowled over with his efforts, he admits friends in two ten-pin leagues are puzzled by the gruelling challenge.

Neil, of Whins Avenue, Farnworth, said: "A few of the people in the league have told me I'm crackers."

The 42-year-old predicts it will take him six hours to topple up to 3,000 pins on December 20.

Hurling an estimated 520 bowls down the lanes will be the equivalent of moving 410 stones in weight.

"It's like shovelling coal from one place to another," said Neil. "Bowling that many you can't just go at it like a bull at a gate because doing it solidly for six hours will really take something."

He predicts, though, that his bowling average of around 170 a game will slip to about 115 as tiredness takes its toll.

A 15-day sponsored trek the length of the Pennine Way carrying a heavy rucksack, though, shows Neil is no slouch when it comes to endurance.

He said: "I'm expecting to be aching at the end of the games but I don't think it will be anything compared with the walk."

Neil became involved with Guide Dogs For The Blind as a volunteer puppy-walker when his friendly Great Dane had to be re-housed because its ability to leap over the garden gate was startling strangers.

He now looks after puppy Merlin who replaced his first pup, who he affectionately named Wobbly Bob because of his initial shakiness on his feet.

Anyone interested in sponsoring Neil should contact him on 405875. He wants companies to pay one pence per pin knocked down, about £30.

Some money raised will also be donated to the children's ward at Royal Bolton Hospital.

Bowling will continue at the Hollywood Bowl as normal during Neil's challenge, with two lanes at a time reserved for him.