Shipley's new ten-pin bowling centre is to be officially opened 33 years to the day after the town's original bowling alley was launched by motor racing legend Jim Clark.

The celebrations are set to feature an evening reunion for veteran bowlers and their families with games fixed at 1960s prices.

Proceeds from the June day of celebrations will benefit a local charity. Businessman David Grainger, who has financed the £500,000 GO Bowling At Shipley Lanes scheme, is hoping to raise at least £1,000.

Bowling at the 12-lane centre - housed in the old Co-op Food Fair building in Market Street which was once home to the Shipley Bowl - actually began just before Christmas but the official opening has been scheduled for June 23 to coincide with the anniversary of Jim Clark's visit.

Mr Grainger said: "We thought it would be a nice idea to have the official opening 33 years to the day after Jim Clark opened the Shipley Bowl - it'll be six months after the actual opening but that's how they did it back in 1965 as well.

"We'll be holding a reunion in the evening for everyone who went bowling in Shipley back in the 1960s and their families and they'll have a chance to play for just 10p a game.

"We've had a tremendous response to the idea already with some people saying they've literally been waiting 30 years for the place to re-open.

"Other things will be going on during the day and I'd hope we could raise at least £1,000 for a local charity - one of the ideas is to get people to collect sponsorship pledges for each pin they knock down.

"We're also hoping to run a little display to show what it was like back in the 1960s and would like people to bring along any old photos they might have from that era.''

The Shipley Bowl closed in 1969 when its fortunes were skittled by a decline in the public's interest in the sport but Mr Grainger said he was convinced the 1990s venture would fare better.

He said: "We've got a long term plan for the place and plan to stay around a lot longer than the original bowling centre.

"We're very pleased with how things have been going so far business is booming.

"The demand is definitely there. People have been saying it was just what Shipley needed and has brought a bit of life back to the place."

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