PLANS to turn an unused bowling green behind a pub into a car park have been thrown out by the council.

The application to use the site behind the Bridge Inn off Church Street in Horwich has been refused by town hall planners.

They accused the applicant, Simon Kilpatrick, of failing to justify the loss of the bowling green in a decision notice issued on Thursday.

The proposal sought to change some of the bowling green into a lawned area while the other part would have become a gravel car park with 10 spaces.

Planning officers also said that the development would lead to increased noise and light disturbance in the late evenings.