TWO hundred indoor bowlers will lose their rinks when the mill they use is closed.

The Blackburn Indoor Bowling Club has been running for 20 years at Albion Mill, Albion Street, Ewood.

But it cannot afford to replace the bowling rinks it will lose so club president Eric Colling, 68, of Sefton Close, Darwen, is appealing for a generous benefactor to help the club find a new base.

He said: "Setting up a new centre will cost a fortune. We know how much it would cost and we know how much is in the club's bank account and there's just no way.

"Nobody seems to be interested in helping us."

The private developer who owns the building is selling it to a Liverpool-based development com-pany which is believed to be preparing a planning application to turn the mill into flats.

Mr Colling added: "The mill has fallen into a state of disrepair in recent years. The only reason it has been kept going is because of money from mobile phone aerials on the roof. Now the roof is in such a bad state it often rains in."

The club attracts members from across East Lancashire, and 15 members represent Lancashire, something Mr Colling fears will suffer should no support be found.

He said: "If we close and members do not go to another club, the county will suffer. There are clubs in Bolton and there are facili-ties in Chorley, but a lot of people will not want to travel.

"We've reached the stage where we should be enjoying it, but I seem to do more work now than I did when I was working."

The spinning and weaving mill was built between 1856 and 1858 by George Whiteley & Co Ltd. cotton spinners and manufacturers.

It had 30,000 mule spindles and the weaving shed had 480 looms powered by a double beam engine by Woods Bros. of Sowerby Bridge.

Production came to a halt in 1975 due to lack of orders.