Bunhill: No funds for bowling alley

VICTOR LOWNES the former boss of the British end of Playboy, has come down to earth with a bump on a piece of wasteland outside Redruth, where he had hoped to build a ten-pin bowling alley. Unfortunately, the Business Expansion Scheme Lownes launched with a British partner, Ian Brummer, to raise up to pounds 750,000 has resulted in offers of a mere pounds 14,500.

According to the prospectus, the two men hoped to put up the alley for a highly optimistic pounds 245,000 - two years ago, the centre was estimated to cost pounds 875,000.

But Mr Lownes at least is not too worried: his most recent venture in the UK was co-producing the London production of a smash hit: Other People's Money.