A STATE-OF-THE-ART new tennis centre has opened its doors in Totton.

The fabulous new facility is based at a major £3.7m development at Hanger Farm and will be called the Totton & Eling Tennis Centre.

There are eight floodlit outdoor courts and a clubhouse costing in the region of £700,000.

The centre is open to all, with club membership allowing the free use of courts. But it is also available to the entire community with a pay-and-play option for non-members and visitors.

Totton & Eling Town Council as well as New Forest District Council helped fund the new centre, with the popular junior development programme of Christine Wheeler-Osman and Richard Carter instrumental in persuading them to support the exciting facility.

A priority of the Totton & Eling Tennis Centre is to involve as many local young people in tennis as possible, and they are forging a strong relationship with Totton College.

The centre officially opened last month, the first member being young Katie Judd, whose grandmother won the ladies' doubles title at Wimbledon in 1932.

The Totton & Eling Tennis Centre will be holding special 'Play Tennis' days on December 29 and 30. All ages and abilities are invited to come along and play for free.

An under-16s youth tournament with a prize fund of £150 will also be held on January 15.

For more information call 023 8066 7532.