MEMBERS of a tennis club in the New Forest have successfully rallied together to regain access to the courts after they were padlocked by the council.

Shocked players discovered their use of the facilities at Lymington Tennis Club had been blocked earlier this month due to various issues between site owners Lymington and Pennington Town Council and the leaseholder.

The local authority instructed solicitors to issue an action for Lymington Tennis Limited to forfeit the lease and subsequently secure the premises.

A forfeiture notice was posted at the premises, with the courts being locked up and warning that anyone who enters the site could face legal action.

However, a group of dedicated members launched discussions with the council and have managed to get back on court in an interim arrangement.

The members sought support from Hampshire LTA and have registered with the organisation, with the focus of forming a member-led committee to oversee the management of the courts.

A statement from Lymington and Pennington Town Council said: "It is now the council’s urgent task to assess the facilities and establish a plan of action.

"The public can be assured that we will do everything we can to ensure that Tennis can continue at the facilities at the earliest opportunity."

It is expected that it could take up to six months for the council to settle matters with the leaseholder and the interim solution has been signed off for the rest of the financial year to cover this period.

Following this period the local authority is tasked with deciding on the long-term management strategy for the provision of tennis at the facility.

James Wright, a long-term member of Lymington Tennis Club, is one of the group working to make sure tennis at the venue gets back up and running.

"I am grateful for the support we have had from members of the club, the council and Hampshire LTA.

"It is great to be able for us to get back on court again."

Mr Wright said the group are in the process of organising elections for committee positions before they set about attempting to find a coach to run lessons and set up a session schedule for members.

In the current interim set-up, the courts are only covered for use by members and a key is needed to gain access.

Lymington Tennis Club has four flood lit hard courts and a two-storey club house, which opened in 2013.

The town council had signed two 21-year leases six years ago with Lymington Tennis Limited for the tennis courts and club house.

These were a requirement of receiving funding grants, including one of £50,000 from Sport England.