An innovative project to create Orkney's first 10-pin bowling alley has attracted a funding package worth more than £100,000 from the county's local enterprise company.

Building work is now well under way on the site in Great Western Road, Kirkwall, where Powerbowl is due to open for business in September.

Michael Reid, head of business development with Orkney Enterprise, said the agency was keen to support a venture that would give the islands a new and exciting leisure activity.

"This will be a unique development for Orkney - bringing a pastime to the county that has proved very popular elsewhere, and it's good to see a local company bringing this project forward," said Mr Reid.

"It will be one of only a handful of all-weather sports facilities in the islands, and will complement other indoor attractions. It should prove popular with local people as well as business visitors and holiday makers -  especially as it will be available whatever the weather conditions are like outside, which is obviously important in a community like ours."

Orkney Enterprise secured £53,000 from the HIE Activity scheme, which uses money provided by Europe to support new recreational and tourism ventures across the Highlands and Islands. The Kirkwall-based agency also provided matching funding - bringing the total backing for the Powerbowl project to £106,000.

Powerbowl Limited, the business behind the £604,000 development, predicts that 12 jobs will be created when the centre opens later this year.

The eight-lane bowling alley will also incorporate a café and bar and will open seven days a week.

"People like a sporting challenge, something good to eat and a drink," said George Drever, one of the Powerbowl directors. "We think we'll be providing the right mix of ingredients for a great night out.

"This has been a dream of ours for more than two years, so it's exciting to see the project off the ground at last with the building work well underway.

"So many people have asked me when it's going to open because they're keen to have a go - and that gives us confidence that this will be a success."

The company has also carried out research in other areas, where bowling alleys of a similar size to the Powerbowl venture have proved highly popular, with many more continuing to open across the country.

"It's a great sport and great fun to take part," added Mr Drever. "We're planning to run leagues involving teams from local businesses and that should help make it a big hit with local people."

The company is very much a family business. Mr Drever's fellow directors are his wife Margaret and son George jnr, as well as brother-in-law Fred Hall and his wife Jacquie.

George Drever jnr, who will manage the bowling alley, is presently Orkney Enterprise's business information officer. As is standard practice in the Highlands and Islands Enterprise network, he took no part in any discussion or decision relating to the application for financial assistance made to Orkney Enterprise by Powerbowl Ltd.