Goran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams may be Wimbledon champions but for head groundsman Eddie Seaward the top seed at the tournament was the new grass developed by a Bingley company.

Wimbledon bosses say the grass - backed by a host of players - helped make this year's tournament a huge success.

The Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), based at St Ives near Harden, helped the All England Club, which organises the championships, test the new grass which was used for the first time this year.

Mr Seaward says he is delighted with the grass and believes it will be of long-term benefit to one of the most famous venues in world sport.

And during the run-up to and course of the championships the change drew favourable reactions from a host of players past and present including Tim Henman, Martina Navra-tilova, John McEnroe and British number eight Luke Milligan who told the T&A the surface was "absolutely immaculate''.

Lucie Ahl, the British women's number two, said: "Looking at the courts and having played on them, they seem to have held up extremely well, particularly as it's been so hot.

"I'm sure it's down to the new seeding which seems to have done the trick.''

A spokesman for the Lawn Tennis Association said: "The championships were a big success and went really well as far as the grass was concerned.

"The grass has worn very well - the courts are still looking great now and as far as we're aware the players have been very happy with it.

"The head groundsman's delighted with the new grass and although the noticeable differences have been minimal the change in seed should be of long term benefit to Wimbledon as it's harder wearing.''

Creeping red fescue - a traditional grass variety - had been used at Wimbledon since 1877 until it was mixed with rye grass a few years ago to improve durability.

But this year the courts were made up entirely of hardy Aberelf rye, re-sown last autumn to improve wear and tear still further.

Experts from the STRI spent weeks simulating the stresses and strains the grass would be put under by the players while a team travelled to SW19 to help the All England Club keep an eye on how it stood up to the fortnight's tennis.