A PINBALL machine fanatic from Burnley is hosting Europe’s largest-ever tournament in a bid to resurrect the ‘lost art’.

Mark Robinson is a member of Northern Lights Pinball, a group of pinball enthusiasts from across the North West.

The group will be welcoming 2,500 visitors to a two-day event devoted to pinballing as part of the console and gaming event Replay Expo, at Blackpool’s Norbreck Castle, in November.

The group hosted a small-scale event with half-a- dozen pinball machines last year, when expo organisers told them it was one of the most popular features of the entire event.

So far the group expects the Northern Lights Pinball Show to feature up to 50 pinball machines, loaned by like-minded collectors.

Mark, who has a collection of eight machines, said: “One of the things that really astonished us last year was how many people had never played real pinball.

"The effect on people who tried it for the first item was extraordinary.

"Quite a lot of visitors spent the entire day playing pinball machines.

“There is a real pinball culture out there that most people are unaware of.

"People don’t even know that you can still buy them, much less meet up with other people who share your interest.

"An event like this is the perfect way to bring pinball back, and prevent it from becoming a lost art.”

For more information on the event, on Saturday, November 5 and Sunday, November 6, visit the websites below.