Hundreds of protesters are making a final attempt to save a bowling alley in Crawley by going to the High Court.

Regular users of AMF Bowl have six weeks to stop the facility being knocked down and turned into flats and offices after the building owners won planning permission.

AMF Bowling UK rents the alley on a short-term lease from owner Allied Dunbar.

The owner wants to turn the site in High Street, which also houses a church and Bar Med, into 6,000 square metres of office space and up to 41 residential flats.

Bowlers, outraged at the decision by Crawley Borough Council to allow the plans last October, formed the SOB (Save our Bowl) Co-operative and joined forces with AMF to fight for the alley.

Almost 500 people have joined the fight so far.

SOB and AMF applied to take the council's decision to a judicial review before a judge at the High Court in Londonn.

However, in December protesters were refused permission to apply for a review and told to leave the building by March 31.

Now SOB members have made a last-ditch attempt to save the alley. They are to have an oral hearing to try to persuade another judge to look at their case in the High Court on February 17.

The group's solicitor Rebecca Hawksley said: "We believe the court has missed the crux of the matter"

At the oral hearing a barrister will lead the judge through the papers submitted and try to show him why the case merits a judicial review.

Ms Hawksley said: "Hopefully the judge will see there is something to be considered.

"If a judicial review is allowed and a finding is made further down the line that the planning permission was not granted properly, the council will have to deal with it again and base their decision on correct principles.

"It is very encouraging to find a community of people who care about a cause in this way. They are committed to this fight and very loyal to the bowling alley they use.

"We sincerely hope that a way forward in this can be found that benefits all the parties involved."

The bowling alley has been used by bowlers in Crawley for 36 years.

Linda Edwards, 52, of West Green, a member of SOB, said it was also a place where the community met.

She said: "The club is such a positive thing for Crawley. We have three generations of bowlers from four year olds to 80 year olds. There aren't many places which could cater for that sort of age range."

The council insists it followed correct procedure in consulting the public about the development.

A spokesman said: "The council is aware of the court case and will be contesting it. We believe that we have acted properly."