FIVE new tennis courts and two resurfaced courts have opened in Worcester.

Tennis players can enjoy the game at Cripplegate Park and Gheluvelt Park on the courts which opened yesterday (September 4), as a new inclusive coaching programme is launched in the city.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), Worcester City Council and its leisure operator Freedom Leisure, joined together to open the new courts in two of the city’s most popular parks.

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The Tennis in the Park initiative is the start of a major drive to encourage more people in the city to pick up a racket and enjoy playing tennis – becoming fitter and healthier along the way.

The new courts have been made possible from support from the LTA, as part of its nationwide facility investment strategy to help get more people playing tennis in communities across the country.

They have served the city a grant of £107,500 and followed up with the loan of another £107,500.

The remaining costs have been met by Worcester City Council, with £50,000 coming from a payment received from Worcestershire County Council as part of last year’s work to raise the level of New Road, which runs alongside Cripplegate Park.

Councillor James Stanley, chairman of Worcester City Council’s Communities Committee, said: “Worcester already has a great reputation as a sporting city but until now tennis has been largely missing from the line-up.

“The significant investment we’ve attracted from the LTA has changed all that and I want to thank them for their commitment to our city.”

Cllr Lynn Denham, vice chairmsn of the Communities Committee, said: “We are committed to ensuring Worcester is a healthy and active city, and these new courts will create more opportunities than ever for people to take up tennis.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a five-set champion or a complete novice – Worcester’s tennis courts are now the ideal place to step up to the net.”

The development of the new courts is part of an extensive programme of activity being supported by the LTA as a partner in the Worcester Community Tennis Network – a collection of local partners led by Worcester City Council that aims to use tennis as a way of getting more people active in parks, clubs, schools and community venues.