Totting up was easy for former world champion Eric Bristow

Pub chain John Barras says older players are complaining young opponents are unable to add up scores because of a lack of basic mental arithmetic.

The company says darts games among young players are taking longer as they struggle to work out their scores.

TV darts commentator Sid Waddell said veteran players like Eric Bristow had better maths skills.

A spokesman for Tyneside-founded John Barras, which is now owned by the Staffordshire-based Spirit Group, said younger players were too reliant on computers for everyday sums.

There was a move some years back to put calculators into pubs, but you need a PhD in ballistic science to work them Sid Waddell

Andrew Knight, the firm's commercial director, said: "We found that our younger darts players are so used to computer games that when they play darts, they struggle adding up their scores in their heads.

"Darts is becoming more popular these days, so if we can help people play and enjoy the game, we'll do what we can!"

Experienced opponents

TV commentator and darts expert Sid Waddell said such poor knowledge was not a problem in the days of Eric Bristow.

"The old players, like Bristow, had it all in their head," he said.

"All the older players knew how to do the mental arithmetic and come with hundreds of combinations of shots to finish or win a game.

"There was a move some years back to put calculators into pubs, but you need a PhD in ballistic science to work them. Your fingers kept getting stuck and it was very hard to send them back if you got the figures wrong."

Mr Waddell said it could be a ploy on the part of younger players to slow down more experienced opponents.

"But on a serious note, counting is fundamental to darts and a good player will always be able to tot up their scores quickly."