A TENNIS and squash club in Hereford has invested thousands of pounds in their facilities to boost participation in both sports.

Hereford Squash Tennis and Racketball Centre is looking towards the future with newly refurbished courts and floodlights.

During the lockdown period the club has spent £10,000 to install LED floodlights and £40,000 to resurface and paint four tennis courts.

"We've had quite an influx in players already since lockdown certainly on the tennis side," said chairman Paul Broadley.

"We've got a club now with all modern and new facilities and I think we are probably one of the best equipped clubs in the area.

"We also offer pay and play for the people who want to give the sport a try.

"You don't have to join immediately and if you want you can join on a pay and play basis and we offer monthly terms as well as annual terms.

"We have done quite a lot to open both sports to as many people as possible.

"We also offer coaching for beginners and people who want to improve.

"We offer internal competitions for people who want to be competitive."

Despite some lockdown measures still being in place the indoor game of squash is also back up and running at the club.

"It's pretty much open now apart from we urge people to wash their hands and keep to social distancing," added Broadley.

"You can play a full game of squash now without restriction.

"Squash is starting to come back and players are starting to come back into squash."

The social side of the club has also been given a boost with a refurbished bar, toilets and new flooring.

Also to accommodate any lockdown measures and to encourage outdoor spectators a new outside patio section has been laid.

The club has also appointed manager Stuart Pugh who took on his role at the club from June 1.

" Stuart is an experienced manager, he used to manager the Plough Inn and had a five-star hygiene rating there and the beer appeared in the Best Beer Guide," added Broadley.

"So he's got a good track record. Stuart is looking for us to open up to the public to use the clubhouse for parties."