Members of the Chatteris Tennis Club are celebrating after receiving a £29,000 grant from the Cambridgeshire Lawn Tennis Association for two new hard courts.

The club, which has been established for over 100 years, is situated in St Peter’s Drive, Chatteris and has seen rapid growth in recent years, which has resulted in a need to offer additional courts for year-round play by their members and visitors.

Simon Grainger, club chairman, said: “It is thanks to the efforts and enthusiasm of the club’s committee over the last few years that we have been able to secure the funds to provide two additional hard tennis courts, thus doubling our provision for year-round play.

“We are anticipating the work to commence in a couple of months’ time and once completed we are all looking forward to Chatteris Tennis Club continuing to welcome its’ community to a modern, inclusive and friendly tennis club for many years to come.”

The club say they will spend the money on four hard surface courts, two of which are floodlit and a clubhouse overlooking the courts.

They plan to launch free public open days, BBQ’s, quiz nights as well as many opportunities for competitive play via the club’s participation in both the Hunts and Peterborough and Cambridgeshire tennis leagues.

A spokesman said: “Contacting local MP Steve Barclay resulted in an introduction to ‘Bright Ideas for Tennis’, a charity set up to assist tennis clubs to raise funds to provide modern facilities to meet the needs of the communities they serve.

“Several fundraising events were undertaken, including holding an open day with GB Davis Cup players attending the club, participation in a 24hour Tennisathon at the National Tennis Centre at Roehampton, holding a Sweet Stall sale, and even one the Club’s members taking part in a sponsored Sky-Dive.”

For information, visit: www.chatteristennis.com