BOWLERS and swimmers held two demonstrations against planned cuts to sports services today.

Around 200 bowlers turned out in force to protest at Council plans to axe bowling green maintenance.

Members of bowls clubs from around the district converged on Idle Bowling Club, armed with placards and chanting 'Save our greens'.

They were protesting at plans to hand the responsibility for maintenance over to clubs.

Many bowlers say they have neither the expertise nor equipment to do this and have offered to pay a maintenance fee instead.

Cliff Dennis, of Airedale and Wharfedale Crown Green Bowling Association, said: "If they implement what they are suggesting, without a doubt some clubs will close."

Among the demonstrators were husband and wife John and June Godding, of Idle, who have both been bowling for 18 years.

Mr Godding, 83, said: "I think it's a bit disgusting. It's the poor old lads copping it again.

"How many sports do you know that have 60, 70, 80 or 90-year-olds playing?"

Also at the demo were Bradford East MP David Ward (Lib Dem) and Bradford Council's Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Jeanette Sunderland.

Cllr Sunderland said her father, who had been passionate about bowls, had died on a bowling green.

She said: "If my dad could have written down the way he wanted to die, that's what he would have written."

Later today, about 100 swimmers gathered in Bradford's Centenary Square for a noisy protest at proposed cuts to the district's elite swimming programme.

The protesters, many of them children and teenagers, donned swimming caps and goggles, waved banners and blew whistles to draw attention to their cause.

The Bradford Council development scheme is under threat in its current form, because of funding cuts agreed by councillors last year.

One of the protesters, Sheryl Clapham, said her son Dalton, 11, was the north-east region champion.

She said: "Without this scheme, and the hours they can train, he wouldn't have been able to achieve that. He is wanting to go all the way."

Councillor Andrew Thornton (Lab), executive member for sport, said it was a "very difficult time for the Council" and savings had to be found.

He said the authority was in talks with the bowling greens and was "prepared to make changes if needed, where we can".

Cllr Thornton said they were also talking to the City of Bradford Swimming Club about how the scheme could be delivered for less money.

He added: "We are not saying it will cease, we are saying we do need to make savings in how it is delivered."