TENNIS lovers in Marlborough are set to be served up some new courts as building work will begin at their new home later this month.

After nearly two decades of trying, Marlborough Tennis Club will have a home of its own from the start of 2018 on land leased from Marlborough Golf Club, next to Port Hill along the A346.

Work to build six all weather tennis courts with downlighting and a small pavilion with toilets and changing facilities will begin at the end of the month, much to the excitement of the community and the 200 or so members.

They are however £75,000 short of the £750,000 total and to try and raise the rest of the funds, the club have launched a crowd funding page and plan on hosting some fundraising events over the course of 2017.

"I cannot tell you how excited I, the 200 members at the club and the community are about this long overdue project," said the club's chairman and head coach Hilda Moore.

"This has been in the pipeline for nearly 20 years without much success but finally we have found a perfect match with the golf club who have been great.

"The tennis club and golf club can come together and start something very special. This is a pretty historic move.

"I want to thank the fabulous Marlborough College for letting us use their courts over the years. They have been so supportive and we hope to work with them again in some way."

The club are offering court sponsorship at £10,000 per court which buys the right to logo advertising at each end of the court for a period of five years, along with a commemorative plaque.

"We are so grateful to all the support we have received so far but we are still a bit short of the grand total so if people could donate to our crowd funding page that would be great," added Mrs Moore, who has been at the club for 16 years.

"By the start of next year we can share the lovely facilities the golf club has but our members need not worry as they will not have to worry about stray balls as there is quite a distance between the course and the courts."

With its new facilities the club are looking to take on a full time coach and assistants and club members will also be able to enjoy the social scene at the golf club next year.

To donate to their page go to http://bit.ly/mtcproject and for more information visit https://www.facebook.com/Marlboroughtennis/