HUNDREDS of protestors have lost their battle to save a Crawley bowling alley after their case was rejected by the High Court.

Bowlers took their fight to save AMF Bowl to the London court this week but Mr Justice Lightman has refused permission for the group to challenge plans to turn the site in High Street into offices and flats.

The decision means AMF Bowl, which has been used by bowlers in the town for 36 years, will close on March 16.

Bowlers launched their fight after the owner of the AMF building, Allied Dunbar, was given planning permission by Crawley Borough Council to revamp the site.

The site which also houses a church and Bar Med, is expected to be turned into 6,000 sqm of office space and up to 41 residential flats.

Bowlers, outraged at the council's decision last October to allow the plans, formed the Save Our Bowl Co-operative (Sob) and joined forces with AMF to fight for the alley.

They applied to take the council's decision to a judicial review before a judge at the High Court.

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

Monday's oral hearing in front of a different judge to challenge the decision over the review was their last-ditch attempt to save the alley.

Bowler Linda Green, 52, of West Green, said: "We are very, very disappointed with the decision but we'll still look for a new centre for our league players in Crawley."