Salts Tennis Club is proving a smash hit with youngsters.

The club, which is part of Salts Sports Association, have coached 430 children over the past five weeks alone.

Club secretary John Bretherick, who has ambitious plans for the Victoria Road-based complex, said: "That number not only includes pupils from Salt Grammar School, but also from six local primary schools, including Eldwick, Baildon Church of England, High Crags, Shipley Church of England and Sandal.

"We have coaching at the club on Wednesdays (4pm to 6.30pm) and Fridays (4pm to 8.30pm) and already have 70 children on our junior register who are aged between five and 16 years of age.

"The five to six-year-olds attend between 4pm and 5pm on a Friday as they find it more difficult to hold a racquet but other than that the sessions are based on ability."

Salts Sports Association, which also includes football, cricket and bowls, has had its future assured with Bradford Council, and a long-term sports development plan has been signed with Salt Grammar School and its 13 feeder primary schools.

The secondary school can now use the Salts Sports Association facilities for the next three years, and the school's 1,200-plus pupils can become junior members of the association.

Funding has also been secured from Bradford Vision (Neighbourhood Renewal Fund) and the Yorkshire Lawn Tennis Association, including Bradford & Bingley plc, to run coaching courses throughout the summer.

For example, Salts Tennis Club will stage two half-term tennis camps from Monday, May 28, to Friday, June 1, - one in the morning (9am to noon) and one in the afternoon (1pm to 4pm).

Those attending do not have to be club members but, again, should be aged from five up to 16.

Mr Bretherick said: "They will be coached by top-quality Lawn Tennis Association-qualified coaches, led by Heaton Tennis Club professional Matt McTurk and his Advance Tennis organisation.

"Racquets will be available for those who do not have them, and the ratio of coaches or assistants to children will be something in the region of one to four or one to six. We will be running similar camps in the summer holidays, starting on August 6 and 13."

Mr Bretherick added: "We also have sponsorship from Pace Micro Technology, and we will be applying for a Sportsmatch grant that will enable us to organise a junior programme all the way through the winter."

The club have already run a tennis leaders' coaching course for 14 to 16-year-olds at Salt Grammar.

Further information is available from Mr Bretherick on 07885 254336.