FUTURE Wimbledon champions could be nurtured in Darlington thanks to the initiative of a junior school teacher.

Abbey junior school year four teacher, Mrs Fiona Tweddle, submitted a bid to the Awards for All lottery fund a couple of months ago.

This week the fruits of her labour took seed when she began coaching youngsters at the first session of the after-school tennis club.

The lottery grant of £1,750 has enabled the school to buy equipment to develop a tennis and hockey after-school club and will go towards future competition travelling costs.

The hockey club will begin in the winter and run alongside weekly hour-long tennis sessions.

Mrs Tweddle, a former Abbey junior pupil, began playing tennis at the age of 11 as a pupil at Teesside high school. A former coach in Darlington, she has played competitively in club and county matches and believes the sport is an ideal way for youngsters to stay fit.

She told the D&S Times: "Tennis is great for keeping fit and enables youngsters to learn team as well as individual skills.

"It's an international sport which can be played while on holiday, and once you have learned how to play you can pick up a racquet anytime and have a go."

Eight of the youngest children in the school are now practising to represent Darlington in a mini-tennis event due to be held at Middlesbrough soon.