FRESH from the Easter break, the summer tennis season is already underway with local secondary schools competing to win the titles up for grabs in the Basingstoke and District Schools Tennis League.

The league, which is sponsored by Totally Tennis and run by Brighton Hill Community School, gives local secondary school pupils the opportunity to play against other schools in the area in under-16 and under-13 age groups throughout the summer term.

Six schools have taken up the challenge and most have entered several teams.

Players from Brighton Hill Community School, Harriet Costello, Bishop Challoner, Cranbourne, Fort Hill and The Vyne will play home and away matches after school over the coming weeks in two under-16 and under-13 divisions and in two girls' leagues.

In the first matches played last week, both in the under-16 divisions, Brighton Hill first team defeated their second team 6-0 in division one while their fourth team beat their fifth team 4-1. As well the secondary schools league and the on-going primary schools league, which is also held at Brighton Hill, all the schools will compete in the secondary and primary schools tournaments held at the end of June.

Madeleine Probyn of Brighton Hill Community school said: "It is brilliant that so many schools have entered the league. It means there will be lots of matches to fit in and so we can all look forward to a good term's tennis!"