A BUDDING young sporting star has made an impassioned plea to Greenalls to leave their bowling greens alone.

Alan Manuel, aged 15, fears that the company's plans to charge clubs up to £5,000 a year for the upkeep of pub greens will destroy the growing popularity of the sport among young people.

The Woolston High School pupil, of Vale Avenue, Orford, plays bowls at the Farmers Arms in Fearnhead, one of the pub's affected by the new Greenalls's policy.

Alan said: "It is not just older people who play bowls, younger people do as well and it worries me that they may not be given the opportunity to if these plans go ahead.

"It could halve the number of teams taking part in the leagues and a lot of people will leave. We are already starting to see people leave because they won't be able to contribute to the cost."

The keen bowler claims the sport is an excellent way to keep young people out of trouble.

He said: "For me, if bowling wasn't around, I could be on the streets doing all sorts. Bowling is something all the family can take part in. If this company gets away with the destruction of these greens, the leagues themselves may fold and bowling may disappear from Warrington."

A spokesman for Greenalls said the company is more than willing to meet the various associations affected by the controversial proposals.

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