大象传媒

Lockdown has left a skittles team from Dorchester high and dry, just two fixtures short of one thousand matches in their history.

Hartstoppers play in Section B of the Dorchester and District Skittles League, having originally formed in the 1985/86 season. The team have already ordered special shirts and commemorative mugs to mark the milestone occasion, and a local brewery has promised to launch a new beer. But the skittle alley at the Colliton Club has been locked for over a year, and the pins placed on hold.

Richard Bates has played for the team for nearly 25 years. He spoke to reporter Laurence Herdman and presenter Steve Harris on 大象传媒 Radio Solent's Dorset Breakfast Show.