Learnt by many at their grandmother's knee, the game is one of the world's oldest and used to have a loyal following in the town.

But according to Leamington and District Domino League secretary Geoff Wright, who has been shuffling the tiles for 40 years, the number of people taking it up is on the wane.

Only 13 league members turned up to the Wheatsheaf Inn in Tachbrook Road for the first round of a new competition on Sunday.

He said: "Four or five years ago there used to be a thriving league, but the no-smoking ban ended a lot of it.

"The domino players are still out there – it just hasn't been made interesting for them."

Mr Wright says around 30 teenagers already play the game in pubs in Leamington and Warwick and he hopes more will get involved.

He said: "There are quite a lot of young people who want to play dominoes, but a lot of people don't know the league exists.

"There will be tables set up with league players at the tournament who can teach them how to play.

"Everybody is trying to support their pubs right now and that is what we are trying to do."

Despite the poor turnout, the Wheatsheaf, which sponsors the league, is still backing the tournament.

Mr Wright added: "I believe it will pick up again, we just need the league players to support it.

"It is a good game – 80 per cent luck and 20 per cent skill - but you have got to know how to 'play' the dominoes.

"We have the lounge to ourselves and it's very sociable."

The tournament is on every Sunday with a £70 cash prize for the winner and £30 for the runner up.

It costs £5 to enter and all proceeds will go back into league funds.

The league meets on the first Tuesday of each month at the Wheatsheaf and matches take place at pubs in Leamington and Warwick every Wednesday.

For more information call Mr Wright on 889786.