TENNIS players in Peebles are hoping to model their future on clay.

And they have the support of local MSP Christine Grahame.

Following a two year fundraising campaign the Peebles Lawn Tennis Club successfully raised £150,000 to construct new tarmacadam courts and LED floodlighting.

The club's original blaes courts regularly flooded resulting in matches often being cancelled.

While the improvements have been warmly welcomed in and around Peebles, officials at the club are forging ahead with the next phase of their development plans.

And on Saturday they gave Ms Grahame a tour of the facilities.

Gordon Russell from Peebles LTC told us: "The next phase of development is to raise a further £50,000 to convert the present new surface into artificial clay which is the type of surface now being used by many of the leading clubs.

"Peebles would be the first club in the Borders, and indeed in the South of Scotland to install artificial clay.

"We welcomed Christine Grahame MSP to the club on Saturday morning to see the new court and floodlighting facilities and to hear about our further development plans for 2018/9.

"She was very supportive of the clubs development programme and community involvement and offered ideas and support with future plans.

"The clay surface is ideal for coaching, due to the bounce characteristics and would, in particular, benefit older players and young children playing, as it is not such a hard surface and is more forgiving."

During Saturday's visit Ms Grahame was shown samples of the planned new court surface.

And she was also told about plans to introduce access and facilities for disabled players.

Over the coming weeks and months Peebles LTC is inviting community groups in and around the town to get in touch.

And they are offering free sessions on the courts.

Mr Russell added: "The club is welcoming contact from community groups in Peebles to enable them to come along and play on the courts for free, a couple of times each term.

"Hopefully our LTA registered coach could be there to help with the session, but if not we can offer some training for group leaders on a Wednesday at 11am or 7pm on a Friday.

"No previous experience of tennis is required and free rackets and balls will be available for players. Just come along and have some fun."

To take advantage of the club's free tennis offer contact secretary Anne McKinnon on anne_mckinnon@yahoo.co.uk.