WONDERFUL weather and the start of Wimbledon means it's the perfect time to pick up a racquet and take advantage of free tennis in Gloucestershire next month.

The Lawn Tennis Association's (LTA) annual Play Tennis campaign, established as the UK's largest free tennis participation event, encourages people of all ages to get on court an have a go.

A website has been specially designed so people can simply log on to www.ltaplaytennis.com and find their nearest court.

A session is planned at Chipping Campden TC on Saturday, July 2 as part of the "Do More" campaign that is running between April and September to encourage non-tennis club members of all backgrounds, ages and abilities to don their trainers and play for free at more than 1,100 clubs, parks and schools across the United Kingdom.

The scheme has proved so popular that a third of the 500,000 people that have taken part in the campaign, in the last seven years, joined a tennis club afterwards.

British No 1, Tim Henman, who is backing the campaign again this year and urging people to do more than just watch, says: "Tennis can be played by any one and is a fun way to get fit with friends. With more and more people playing tennis, the chance of finding our future British champions becomes even greater."