YOUNG members of a Bolton family have been 'bowled over' by success that's right up their alley . . .

When it comes to chancing their arm, the entire Little family from Old Vicarage, Daisy Hill, have a giant contribution to make.

Not only do mum and dad Ken and Lynne compete in ten pin bowling to league standard, but all three of their children have recently been chosen to represent Lancashire.

Gary, 18, Stuart, 13, and Kathryn, 11, have all been picked to represent the county in August.

The boys are old hands at representing Lancashire, but for Kathryn the call-up marks a first.

Gary will be in the seniors and Under-24 teams, Stuart in the Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18 teams and Kathryn in the Under-14 and Under-16s.

Success on the bowling alley is nothing new to the family. Gary is an ex-European champion and Stuart a British champion.

Dad Ken began bowling in 1970 "for a bit of a laugh", and even worked as chief mechanic at the Worsley centre for a while.

He said: "There is always one of us competing in a league somewhere."

Gary and Kathryn started bowling when they were seven and Stuart when he was just four.

Ken said: "It started with me coaching the kids; now I am the one who gets bullied.

"It is murder when we go for a family day out ten pin bowling. For other families it may be fun, but not for us."

And the secret to being a successful bowler? "The timing," explained Ken.

But, he added: "It can be a cruel game."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.