More than 100 teams across seven divisions will be taking part in the Gloucester Charities Skittles League this season.

The new campaign gets under way in September and will include three new teams – Spare Bears, Lord of the Pins and Frampton Cricket Club.

Spare Bears will play in Division Seven and will play their home games at the Gala Club on Monday evenings.

The club have been founded by secretary Aaron Powick along with his mum and dad – Carolyn and Graham – and he said the aim of the game was to have fun.

“We’ve got a squad of about 14 players and about half of us have played skittles,” said Aaron, who also plays for RGHOC in Division One of the Gloucester City Skittles League.

“We’re a team made up of family and friends and we just want to go out and have fun. It’s not like playing for a team in Division One where there’s a bit more pressure, if you get a 2 or a 9 it doesn’t matter.

“If we start doing well and we go up a couple of divisions, then great, but if we don’t, we don’t. The great thing about skittles is that it is such a friendly, social sport.”

So where did the name Spare Bears come from?

“I googled it,” laughed Powick, who has been playing skittles for about six years. “We wanted an unusual name and that was ideal because if you get a spare in skittles you’re doing well. The other name we nearly went for was Pinguins.”

Lord of the Pins, meanwhile, will play their home matches at England’s Glory on Wednesday evenings while Frampton CC’s home alley is Cadbury Hall at Frampton on Severn.

Frampton, who will play their home games on Tuesday evenings, are mainly made up of cricket club members and used to play in the Stroud and District Skittles League.