TENNIS coach Andy Warry, who lives in Standford, has been chosen, with thousands of other coaches across Britain, to take part in a Lawn Tennis Association-backed scheme to encourage 10,000 children to take up tennis.

Andy, a coach at Liphook Tennis Club, is now taking 10 children, age five to eight, through a series of free lessons on Saturday mornings to get them started playing tennis.

At the end of the session they will get a free racket and, it is hoped, a love of the game which they will play into adulthood. One or two could also be budding Wimbledon stars.

Andy said: “I have just done my fourth week and we do have one or two children who are proving they have real potential, but all are keen and enjoy the lessons. We also involve the parents and let them have a go, and I hope they will continue to play and maybe join the tennis club.

“The Lawn Tennis Association is funding the scheme and its aim was to get 10,000 children across the country playing tennis this summer, but there are now 15,000 and each gets a free racket.”