Bowls is not a sport generally associated with young people but in Devizes teenagers are enjoying learning the game.

For the past four weeks PE students at Devizes School have been playing bowls at nearby Devizes Bowls Club under the tutelage of experienced coaches.

As well as learning new skills, the initiative has forged good links between young people and the older generation.

The link up was the idea of Gerald Webb, the men’s captain at the bowls club, who contacted the school, which is a specialist sports college, and he was fully supported by Rosemary Bradbury, the ladies captain.

Bowls coaches from all over the county have given up their time each Thursday morning to teach just over 20 Year 10 pupils the techniques of the sport that most, if not all, had never played before.

Pupil Roxxie Fielding, 15, who is more accustomed to playing volleyball, said: “Bowls is a really good game and it’s really easy to adjust to. I thought it might be a bit boring but it’s not at all. It’s taken seriously by everyone who plays it but you can have a laugh when you make a mistake.”

Pupil Zach Mills, 14, who plays football and used to play for Potterne Cricket Club, said: “Bowls is really good. It’s quite tricky, you have to get the bowl on the right line. I have learned a lot and I think I might carry on playing it.

“Before I came I thought it was a sport for oldies but the members of the club are really funny and cool.”

Mrs Bradbury, 71, of Devizes and who has been playing bowls for 11 years, said the club was delighted at the response of the pupils.

She said: “It’s been lovely to see their happy faces and it is good that we can offer them something to do. They were intrigued when they first started and I think it’s opened their eyes a bit. Hopefully we will get some of these youngsters joining the club.”

The club does have two young members, including Robert Stratton, a Year 11 pupil at Devizes School.

Sue Marshall, assistant headteacher and director of specialism at Devizes School, said: “As a sports college we like to try different sports and this has been fantastic. I have been teaching for 20 years and this link up with Devizes Bowls Club has been one of the special moments for me.”

The project has two more weeks to run.