BOWLING was not the only sport to be affected when the Farmers Arms pub in Rudheath closed suddenly last month.

Members of Lostock Homing Society were suddenly left without a home as well.

Now the pigeon racers, who start their season this weekend, have been allowed by Rudheath Social Club to put up a shed on allotments at the back of the former pub.

And they are looking for sponsors to help them raise some £240 to buy the shed.

Member Tom Howarth said: "We are not looking for a huge amount of money.

"We are going to have a football card for the cup final which should raise about £100 and it would be great if four companies could sponsor us for around £25 each."

The Farmers Arms shut down suddenly in early March. The pub had been on Middlewich Road for more than 100 years.

There was an 11th hour reprieve for the pub's bowling teams which has been given a lease to continue using the bowling green.

A spokesman for Punch Taverns, which owns the pub, said there had been no real developments since March.

He said: "The pub is still closed and we are still reviewing what we are going to do with the site."