A man in Kent has built a bowling machine for his son using parts from his shed during the coronavirus lockdown.

With Government guidelines restricting people’s movement outside, Phil Alger’s son Elliott, 18, was bored with no school and no prospect of a game of cricket.

And while the machine will be the envy of cricket fans all over the world, Mr Alger was keen to send a message that people can have fun by staying at home during lockdown.

“You don’t have to go round the park and hit the ball for someone to pick up and throw it back to you,” he said.

“We’ve been on lockdown three weeks and I’m pretty serious that I don’t want him (Elliott) going out of the house.

“It’s just trying to keep him in the house, keep him not bored so to speak.

“Anything to keep people at home is the message.”