A Sussex village has formed a tennis club with a difference.

It has no courts, headquarters and committee.

Nor are there any plans to affiliate to the LTA, although the Fulking Marvellous Tennis Club believe their name alone could preclude such an association.

But the founders are confident the club will grow if more fellow villagers with courts in their back gardens support them.

Founder Alison Daly said: "I thought of the idea. I used to play at Queen's Club when I lived in London and used the 'bubble' at Hove when it was around. I've also played at The Weald (Hassocks) and the Brighton Health and Racquets Club, but there was nothing in Fulking.

"There are about six or seven neighbours who have courts and, as I wanted to play locally and didn't have my own court, I thought I'd advertise in the village local newsletter to see if anyone would let me and others use their's."

Alison's appeal was issued in the Fulking and Edburton Pigeon Post, inviting anyone in the village to "join a series of tennis afternoons during the summer months".

She sat back waiting for a response. Alison said: "We've had a couple of volunteers, who are kindly allowing us the use of their facilities, one of them even has a grasscourt, and the membership is now a dozen.

"At the moment we are meeting at Wickwoods close by as well to get the ball rolling, playing a few friendly tournaments for £3 per head a time, but hopefully a few more neighbours will offer their courts so we can play more in the village.

"I think a tennis club is important in a community like ours because there is so little going on. There's no church, the shop has closed down and the locals tend not to use the pub. But a tennis club can draw people together. We haven't formed to help produce another Tim Henman. We just want a nice, informal set-up, so we can have a relaxed game and perhaps a barbeque afterwards."