A NEW home for a tennis club in Tockington has started taking shape, only a day after Andy Murray defended his Olympic title in Rio.

Work on the new clubhouse for Olveston and Tockington Tennis Club started on Monday, and will include a kitchen, toilet and changing facilities as well as a communal space for members.

As one of 148 sports projects receiving a share of £9 million of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities fund, the club has been allocated £70,000 for the bespoke clubhouse, as well as £15,000 from South Gloucestershire Council.

The club’s secretary, Claire Hawkins, said: “We are delighted to have secured this investment, which means we can upgrade our premises and start getting more people playing tennis more often.”

Sport England property director, Charles Johnston, said: “It’s great to see Olveston and Tockington Tennis Club join the long list of successful clubs to benefit from this fund.

“The Inspired Facilities Fund has had a huge impact on grassroots sport across the country.  Since 2011, we’ve invested £102 million into more than 1,920 projects to improve and refurbish sports clubs and transform non-sporting venues into vibrant community sports clubs.”

Thornbury and Yate MP Luke Hall said: “This investment by Sport England into Olveston and Tockington Tennis Club is fantastic news.  This money is an important investment in developing sport for the local community, and the new clubhouse will facilitate the next stage in the development of the club.”

Cllr Matthew Riddle, leader of South Gloucestershire Council also said that he was pleased the council were able to assist the tennis club with funds for their facilities, adding that the improvements were desperately needed.

He said: “The old clubhouse was no more than a garden shed and will be replaced by a professionally designed clubhouse.”