THREE Southend tennis clubs are taking part in the LTA’s biggest-ever grassroots programme for young players.

Thorpe Bay, Southend Lawn and Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre have signed up for the Tennis for Kids initiative.

The programme aims to create a legacy in the sport following Great Britain’s historic Davis Cup win last November.

It is a national initiative which will aims to inspire 10,000 children aged between five and eight to play tennis for the first time.

Tennis for Kids offers a free six-week course led by 1,000 specially-trained coaches, with those competing the course receiving one of 10,000 free tennis rackets.

The courses, run with support from Highland Spring, start this month and will run until July. Go to clubspark.lta.org.uk/tennisforkids for more details.