Bradford on Avon Tennis ClubTHE chairman of a tennis club at the top of its game has warned it could close if courts are not brought up to standard.

Karen Perrett, 38, who has been chairman of Bradford on Avon Tennis Club for 15 years, said the club had dwindled to just 12 members as a result of appalling playing surfaces on the West Wiltshire District Council- owned courts off Pound Lane. Despite the club's success in the Chippenham and District League, with its ladies team defending their division one title, Ms Perrett said the club had been continually overlooked for funding.

Ms Perrin said the club would be forced to move from the courts, which it uses four nights a week, to keep members and prevent complaints from visiting teams. She said: "The club has been running since 1968 and I can say this year we desperately need new blood to ensure we survive. I do appreciate what they are saying. Each year the Government gives them less and less so I do understand their predicament," she said.

"But we are still trying to play on the courts and in this weather it gets very slippy and can be quite lethal to play on."

District council spokesman Louise Knox said: "We would say that we haven't been able to make a significant investment in the courts for the last five years. Bids from Bradford tennis club have been unsuccessful because of the limited amount of money we have had available and other bids having to take precedence.

"We have offered a discount on the hire fees for this current year as a short-term measure, but we just don't have the finances to make the quick fix."