A TENNIS club has received funding to rejuvenate its outdoor tennis courts.

Stokesley Tennis Club received money from Hambleton District Council’s Making a Difference Awards to help rejuvenate its all-weather outdoor tennis courts.

Joint secretary of the club, Jayne Preece, said their three courts had reached the stage where they were totally unsuitable to use in winter.

“We like to play all year round weather permitting and without restoring the courts to their former glory we may have had to close the club,” she said.

“Vibrant towns have excellent sporting facilities with strong active clubs and it is vital that Stokesley is able to provide quality facilities to attract not only new members but also encourage older members to continue playing.

“Now thanks to the district council’s grant we are able to do that and have had a number of ‘try tennis’ days.

“We hope the club will go from strength to strength and who knows we might produce our own ‘Wimbledon’ star too.”

Ward member, Councillor Stephen Dickins who supported the project added: “It is great to be able to help clubs like Stokesley Tennis Club with projects that they otherwise would not be able to afford themselves.

“The grant supports three out of four of the council’s key priorities - enhancing health and wellbeing, driving economic vitality and providing a special place to live.”