David Olson, 33, discovered the first bowling ball while demolishing the back steps of his house – but went on to discover 159 more, all from the same manufacturer.

The man, a resident of Norton Shores in the US state of Michigan, eventually contacted manufacturer Brunswick to find out what was going on.

It emerged that scrapped balls from a former Brunswick plant in the area were often taken by workers to use as a cheaper alternative to gravel or sand, the Detroit Free Press reports.

The balls date back to the 1950s and Mr Olson intends to reincorporate them into his home in creative ways, including using them as edging for his landscaping.