Bishop's Stortford Lawn Tennis Club holding free tournament at Stortford Heroes: Party in the Park, an open day and summer holiday camps

Bishop's Stortford Lawn Tennis Club will soon be offering all Grand Slam surfaces to members and the wider community as it continues its post-pandemic growth.

The club, in Cricketfield Lane, is building two new artificial clay courts to add to its excellent facilities, which already feature three hard courts with seasonal bubble, five astro courts and six grass courts.

There is something for everyone, from beginners to advanced adult coaching to sessions for children aged two and above, with non-members welcome to enjoy court time with 'pay and play' for £10 an hour.

And you can find out about everything the club has to offer at an open morning on Sunday July 17, perfect for people new to the area and those interested in tennis who want to try out some coaching.

Sessions for juniors aged six to eight and adult coaching will take place from 10am to 10.45am, before sessions for juniors aged nine and above along with adult cardio will be served up between 11am and 11.45am.

Sign up at www.bsltc.co.uk under 'About Us – Events'. Those attending the open morning can take advantage of a 10% discount on new memberships taken out.

The club, which was formed in 1920, has enjoyed a growth surge since the pandemic struck in spring 2020, with the number of members - adults and juniors - soaring from around 500 to more than 750.

Members can enjoy access to the courts, mix in club sessions and compete on tennis rungs for singles matches, whilst those looking for more competitive play have the option of teams in the Aegon National League, Herts County and Small Clubs Leagues.

And the club will soon be offering the sport of padel – a cross between tennis and squash which is hugely popular on the continent – having been granted planning permission for two courts with a canopy for all-weather action.

The club, which offers half-price membership to airline crew to play in off-peak hours as well as summer memberships for university students, is keen to attract even more people from the community to enjoy its facilities.

And it is holding a free Tie Break Ten Tournament at Stortford Heroes: Party in the Park on Saturday July 16 when big prizes will be on offer at the town courts in Castle Park.

There will be competitions for six- to eight-year-olds (2-3pm), adult mixed doubles (3-5pm) and men's doubles (5-7pm). Sign up at www.bsltc.co.uk under 'About Us – Events'.

The club is running tennis camps in the summer holidays, from July 25 to August 26, for juniors aged four and above of all abilities.

It's a great way to get your child involved in tennis and introduce them to a sport they can enjoy for a lifetime.

Monday/Wednesday/Friday 9am-12pm is for juniors aged four and five; Monday-Friday 9am-12pm for juniors aged six to nine; and Monday/Wednesday/Friday 1-4pm for juniors aged 10+.

Sessions cost £22.50 for members and £25 for non-members. Use discount code 'BSIP22' to receive 10% off your booking before July 18.

To find out more about the club and to book for any of its July events and summer camps, visit www.bsltc.co.uk.