£100k work to return tennis courts to park

Work to bring tennis courts back to a 100-year-old park is due to begin.

The courts in Vulcan Park in Workington, Cumbria, were removed in the 1990s when former owner Allerdale Council struggled to fund their upkeep.

Workington Town Council, which now owns the park, is behind plans to bring them back, with work due to start on 24 February.

Mayor Neil Schofield said: "Many of our community still talk about the old tennis courts in the park and how they would like to see them reinstated - we are delighted that we are able to fulfil this wish for them."

The work, costing £103,000, is funded by the Lawn Tennis Association, the government and Cumberland Council, and is expected to take between six to eight weeks.

The basketball hoops currently there are due to be moved elsewhere in the park, with the mini tennis nets and panna court expected to move to a different park in the town.

Vulcan Park turns 100 this year and the town council is holding a celebration on 7 June to mark the milestone.

Cumbria Tennis will run free coaching and games on the courts on the day.

Once opened, users will be able to book the courts online and and they will be operated by a coded gate system.

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