YOUNGSTERS at several of Hartlepool's primary schools took part in a special mini-tennis event yesterday.

Thirty-two pupils from Kingsley, West Park, Stranton, and Jesmond Road primary schools competed in the local finals of the Spring Health Mini-Tennis Challenge, held at Brierton Community Sports Centre, in the town.

During the past few months, the town's primary schools have been taking part in a contest organised by the Durham and Cleveland Lawn Tennis Association to help develop children's interest in tennis.

Mini-tennis is a starter game for youngsters, which uses smaller badminton-sized courts to start with, then progresses to larger 18m courts as the children improve their playing skills.

Barbara Borwell, county mini-tennis coach with the Durham and Cleveland Lawn Tennis Association, said: "The competition has been running for three years, and is going from strength to strength.

"Mini-tennis is a really great way to give youngsters a taste of tennis at a level which is suitable for them, and at a pace which can be stepped up as their skills and confidence develop."