Drunken fans and foul-mouthed players... at the bowling green!

IT MIGHT have an image as one of the most genteel of sports.

But the polite applause of crown green bowling crowds is increasingly being disrupted by drunken spectators and players turning the air blue, according to one county association.

The Shropshire Crown Green Bowls Association has sent every club in the county a new code of conduct which aims to clamp down on the problem.

Mike Caddick, the outgoing county president, said players can now be fined, suspended or banned if new rules surrounding drunken behaviour are ignored.

The stance was backed by Shropshire Bowling League chairman Andy Jones, who said he had encountered drunken players ‘offending families in the crowd’ with their expletive-strewn language.

Mr Jones, whose clubs will also sign up to a new league code of conduct, said the problem was particularly pronounced at county matches, in which 12-strong teams compete on Sunday afternoons.

He added: ‘I’ve seen players who have finished playing become rather too boisterous in support of their team after they have started drinking. Their language has caused offence and officials have had to escort them out of the club.’