TENNIS players in Ramsbury have celebrated being named Club of the Year by the Wiltshire Lawn Tennis Association as part of the British Tennis Awards.

The club’s president Ethel Hutchings was also recognised for her service to the sport and won the Outstanding Achievement Award.

Mrs Hutchings, who has been involved with the club since it began in 1973, said: “It is quite sweet to be recognised. My enjoyment has come from a love of tennis and a love of seeing other people enjoy the sport. It was particularly nice for me to get the award in the same year as the club was recognised.

"To go from having no courts of our own and renting spots on private courts in 1973 to now owning five of our own is quite an achievement. The club has been a success story.”

Chairman Richard Handover said:"We are very pleased with the healthy membership numbers, especially the juniors, which is a great credit to the coaching team and Roger Henry. It is truly a team effort and I am fortunate to be supported by a dedicated and hard working committee.

"We are very proud to receive this award."

The awards are a joint initiative between The Lawn Tennis Association, the Tennis Foundation and 40 county tennis associations, including Wiltshire LTA.

Sir Geoffrey Owen, Wiltshire LTA president presented all the winners with certificates, including Liz Lewis from Royal Wootton Bassett tennis club who was named Volunteer of the Year and 14 year old Amelia Bissett from Devizes who won Player of the Year after rising in the Under 18 world rankings from 1500 to 332.