THE West Somerset Sports and Leisure Centre wants to encourage people to pick up a racket and start playing tennis this summer.

1610, who run the centre, is launching budget family and single tennis passes and also running a free tennis weekend at Minehead and its eight other leisure centres in Somerset as part of an initiative to get the county fit and active.

The Great British Tennis Weekend, organised in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association, offers free tennis on July 16 and 17.

And 1610’s budget tennis season pass for a family of four costs £30 for the summer season up to August 31. It gives family members unlimited access to courts. A single tennis pass is available for £20.

1610 customer service manager Will Harris said Wimbledon champions like Andy Murray were made not born, and their career starts at grass roots level.

“Many of us will be cheering Andy on, but interest in tennis should not end when Wimbledon finishes,” he said.

“It’s a fantastic sociable sport to take up whether you want to relive the tennis glories of your youth or start competing in tournaments, there is a tennis court near you to help you get fit and have fun.

“This initiative may inspire a youngster to take on tennis as a sport but above all it is aimed at encouraging people to leave their sofas behind and to enjoy the summer months batting a ball over a net.”

For more details of the Summer of Tennis initiative and season pass, visit www.1610.org.uk