BUDDING tennis players were able to take advantage of an open day to mark the opening of its newly built clubhouse.

Wellfield Tennis Club, in High Coniscliffe, was awarded £74,700 of lottery funding to help pay for the revamp.

Dave McGuire, of Sport England, was the guest of honour while senior members George and Jean Green, who have played at the club for 40 years, carried out the ribbon cutting.

Club chairman Mike Sowerby said: “It was a fantastic day for everyone involved to finally see all the hard work pay off with our great new clubhouse, and was indeed a day to celebrate.

“We felt it right that our longest serving members and great advocates of Wellfield Tennis club, George and Jean Green be involved in the opening and did a great job.

“We will all be forever grateful to Sport England for their funding and the new clubhouse will now last us for years and years to come and be the hub of many great finals days such as the one we had on Saturday.”

The members also played their finals day to celebrate the official opening.