Floodlit bowling will not only be good for the sport's enthusiasts but could also help cut crime.

That's according to the application for planning permission submitted to Swindon Borough Council by Highworth Bowls Club.

The club in Swindon Road wants to install 10 floodlights around its ground- four lights mounted on the club house, and six on poles around the green.

The club wants to use them only between 7pm and 10pm during the bowling season, from mid-April to the third week of September.But the club assures planners at Euclid Street that it won;t be that often. Its application says: "The flood lights will only be uses during the above periods when there is a game that requires them to be on - usage will be infrequent as there are not games every night of the week and some games will be finished well before the time states and will then be switched off."

When the lights are used, the club says, it could help the neighbourhood : "The lights are intended to increase the use of bowling green and its facilities which in turn will contribute to the passive surveillance of the rest of the area.

The poles used to elevate six of the lights will be painted green to minimise their visual impact when in use and removed during the close season the application adds, and says: "They are smaller in height to street lights and are as low as possible the amount of light proposed is to give the minimum required to provide sufficient illumination of the bowling green only."

The application says that neighbours "have all shown a positive stance" towards the proposals, which the club say are necessary to maintain and increase its membership numbers.