SHOPPERS in Birkenhead will have a chance to aim for the bullseye when they pit their skills against two-time world darts champion Adrian Lewis when he visits the town this week.

The reigning Professional Darts Corporation Ladbroke winner will be at Albermarle Bond pawnbrokers in The Grange and Pyramids Shopping Centre on Thursday evening to play against customers and sign Christmas cards.

Adrian, 27, whose nickname in the sport is 'Jackpot', will be at the oche in the Borough Pavement store, as part of its £10m clearance sale, from 5.30pm onwards, and after showing off the kind of polished performance which took him to the world title in both 2011 and 2012 he will invite shoppers to throw against him. 

Jess Sanders, the store assistant manager, said: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome Adrian to the Birkenhead Albermarle Bond.

"We're setting up a darts board and we are sure lots of people will want to come along and meet him - and also try to beat him.

"I know there are quite a few good darts players in this area so it will be interesting to see if anyone can get the better of him.

"Our aim is to try to get our customers involved in what promises to be a great night."

Derek Millar, commercial director for The Grange and Pyramids Shopping Centre, said: "We are very practiced at welcoming high profile guests because we are a busy town centre shopping centre and a lot of the stores we have here are selected to host events such as this one.

"Adrian's visit is sure to encourage lots of people to Birkenhead on Thursday and ensure we are ‘on target’ for another bumper late night shopping day at The Grange and Pyramids Shopping Centre."

The store will be dressed up for Christmas and Santa will be there to hand out little treats and drinks to customers.

Adrian, from Stoke-on-Trent, initially made his big breakthrough in 2004, having enjoyed success in the British Teenage Open before qualifying for the UK Open and Las Vegas Desert Classic that summer.

He went on to become only the third player in the sport's history, after recent I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here contestant Eric Bristow MBE and Raymond van Barneveld, to win the world title and retain it the following year.

Adrian reached the 2011 final courtesy of victories over Tony Eccles, Mark Dudridge, Robert Thornton, Vincent van der Voort and Mark Webber, winning the match and the championship 7–5.

He retained the world title by beating Andy Hamilton 7-3 in the final and is currently being tipped to win a third successive PDC World Championship title at Alexandra Palace on New Year's Day.