AN HISTORIC sporting trophy has visited the region as part of a nationwide tour to celebrate Britain winning it for the first time in almost 80 years.

The Davis Cup went on display at Silksworth Community Pool, Tennis and Wellness centre in Sunderland on Thursday (April 28).

Sixty children from Richard Avenue Primary School and members of the public were given the opportunity to have their photographs taken with the trophy, as well as a chance to pick up a racket and play some tennis themselves.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) launched a nationwide tour of the trophy to celebrate Great Britain’s historic victory last November, their first success since in the competition since 1936.

Great Britain beat Belgium in Ghent by three rubbers to one to clinch the title, with Andy and Jamie Murray amongst the winning team.

The Davis Cup Trophy Tour will visit 90 locations across the UK including tennis clubs, parks, communities, leisure centres, town halls and shopping centres.

Anne Clayton, Durham and Cleveland LTA Davis Cup trophy tour co-ordinator, said: “I think it’s excellent that the LTA have let us have the trophy in Durham and Cleveland.

“Hopefully it will inspire some more of the kids to take up tennis.”

Fiona Brown, director of people services at Sunderland City Council, said: “It was a fantastic opportunity for people to come face to face with the stuff of sporting legend and we’re thrilled to have been chosen as one of the areas it is visiting.

“Sporting success like the Davis Cup win can inspire and do inspire people to take up tennis and we hope that people who came and saw the cup will be inspired to have a go themselves.”