BUDDING tennis players made a racket at Moss Bank Park after the tennis courts underwent a facelift.

Youngsters joined the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Martin Donaghy, and Mayoress Jacqueline Tracey to celebrate the refurbishment of the four courts with coaches from Bolton Arena.

New nets, fencing and floodlights have been installed in the Smithills park, and the concrete has been resurfaced and painted.

Stuart Kay, tennis manager at Bolton Arena, said it was good to welcome people to the new-look centre, which will be open for all to enjoy.

He added: “We set up this community tennis programme to get the Moss Bank courts up and running due to the investment Bolton Council has made to improve the facilities.

“We’re now working with the council and the Tennis Federation in a three-year plan to work with clubs and schools to increase participation of tennis in the borough.”

The council is spending £2 million upgrading recreation facilities across the borough, including those at Hulton Lane Playing Fields and Queens Park.

Cllr Sufrana Bashir Ismail, cabinet member for community services, said: “The tennis courts had become difficult to play on. The resurfacing and new lighting will allow more games to be played.”

Coaches are offering low-cost sessions at Moss Bank Park to help people get into the sport. On Tuesday evenings, for the next five weeks, a “turn up and play” session will be held at the courts.

It is open for under-eights from 4pm to 5pm, under-11s 5pm to 6pm, families 6pm to 7pm, and then for adults of all abilities, for £2 a session for juniors and £3 for adults.

A tennis camp for children aged five to 12 is also running every day this week, from 10am to noon, costing £5 a day. Another camp will be held from Monday, August 11, until Friday, August 15.

For more details, email stuartkay@boltonarena.com