THE tennis club in Ledbury is re-opening this month following an extensive refurbishment.

The work has been carried out during the coronavirus lockdown with new synthetic grass added.

The new turf is known as a "magic carpet" as it arrives in large rolls of synthetic material.

This replaces the old Macadam court surfaces and was installed by Euroclay, a company from Leamington Spa.

The state of the art surface was made in the Netherlands and club spokesman Jeff Arlott said it was a "major investment" in the club.

He said: "This major investment in our facilities will give us a tennis court surface specifically designed to provide the highest quality and comfort for our members.

"The all-weather playing surface will provide better grip and will have more ‘give’ than a traditional hard court, meaning that it will be much kinder on the body’s hip, knee and ankle joints."

The club has largely self-funded the upgrade to the court surface, along with the recent refurbishment of the clubhouse.

They have also received financial support from Herefordshire County Council’s Small Business Grant and the English Sports Council Lottery Fund, designed to help local sporting organisations throughout the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

Mr Arlott added: "We are really proud of our Gloucester Road club, which truly is one of Ledbury’s hidden gems.

"Players of all ages and abilities, are very welcome here, whether they want to play competitively, or just enjoy the stimulating exercise which this most sociable of all outdoor sports provides."

To celebrate the rolling out of its new court surface, the club will be holding an open morning on Saturday, September 26 from 10am until 12pm.

Mr Arlott said: "It’s free to attend, and rackets and balls will be provided, so whether you’re picking up a racket for the first time, you’re a seasoned regular, or you’d simply like to return to playing tennis after a long break, please reserve your space via the events tab on the club’s website."

For more information, go to clubspark.lta.org.uk/ledburytennisclub