TENNIS enthusiasts of all abilities are invited to join a new, one-of-a-kind league in Bury.

The Local Tennis League, which has just under 200 groups across the country, is launching in the town to provide a regular game for players at a local public tennis court.

Sportsmen and women aged 18 and over are invited to play the sport at St Mary's Park, Prestwich, which has the largest number of tennis users in Bury.

The site was previously chosen for a £65,000 redevelopment to improve the courts and encourage residents to play the sport, led by Bury Council and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).

Sally Kinnes, Local Tennis League's co-founder, said: "Public courts often have great coaching or sessions for children, but there has not previously been an easy way for adults to play matches.

"We offer a structure that makes it easy for players to do just that while getting some great exercise at the same time. It also means you never need to be short of a playing partner ever again."

The Local Tennis League scheme aims to encourage residents to get back into tennis and to meet new competitors.

Players are organised into groups of between six and eight people of a similar standard, who arrange matches at a mutually convenient time.

Any location that suits both players can be used, including the new courts at St Mary's Park.

Everybody who completes three matches before the halfway point in the league is sent a free can of tennis balls. Prizes are also handed out to the winner of each group.

The tennis league concept is approved by and affiliated to the LTA, the governing body, and recognised by the Tennis Foundation, a charity set up by the LTA to promote grass-roots tennis.

The next round of matches in Bury runs from Thursday, June 21 to Wednesday, August 15, but participants must register by Monday, June 18 to take part.

For more information, visit https://localtennisleagues.com/stmarysparkbury.