THE £15million Bolton Arena, officially opened today, has been awarded a major tennis tournament.

The Lawn Tennis Association has decided to use the purpose built centre for the National Championships in October.

And just to highlight the centre's importance in the world of British tennis, the Challenger tournaments will also be coming to Bolton later in the year.

Defending men's and women's champions Lee Childs and Lorna Woodroffe are expected to be among a high-class line up of British players fighting for the respective crowns in the nationals

They take place from October 19-27 and are followed by the men and women's Challenger tournaments - events which will firmly put Bolton on the tennis map.

Gavin Fletcher, the LTA's Director of Events and Tournaments, said: "The Bolton Arena is a magnificent setting for the Nationals and we are delighted to be staging this important tournament in a state-of the art venue.

"I would like to place on record the LTA's thanks to Telford International Centre which has been the venue for the Nationals over the last decade."

The 6,000-capacity Bolton Arena is also the new location for the LTA's new North West regional headquarters and is available as a pay and play facility for local people.