It was a family affair at Newhaven as the club increased membership by 50 per cent thanks to the LTA's Play Tennis initiative.

Secretary Bob Jackson revealed his grandson Nathan, ten, and wife Joy had joined along with Nathan's dad David.

Jackson claimed this week's annual scheme, which involved free tennis coaching and play, helped to bring them on board.

Three-court Newhaven increased their number of members by 20 as more than 100 newcomers turned up at the club's Court Home Road headquarters.

Jackson said: "This is the fourth year of Play Tennis and for us it was the best yet. There were more than 60 turned up on the first day and 40 the following day.

"The great thing for the club is that we have increased the membership 50 per cent up to 64 because of it and we have only just started the season.

"We are only a small club so to have 12 more junior members and eight adults is a big thing for us.

"My wife has put up with my involvement for years and Play Tennis gave her a little push into joining me and she'll enjoy the social side. Nathan is getting quite keen as is David."

The two days activities were informal.

Jackson said: "It was a bit ad hoc. The younger ones loved the ball machine. They were fascinated as the mechanical server, set at a certain air pressure, popped balls out and over the net.

"The slightly older kids borrowed equipment and went off and played. The same with the adults. Play Tennis is mainly about attracting juniors to tennis but our sessions seem to buck the trend with quite a few grown ups coming along."

Jackson believes improved links with schools and youngsters coming back to the game helped to make Newhaven's event a hit.

He said: "There is an upsurge of interest in the sport nationally with clubs going into schools to make sure youngsters know about tennis.

"That's what we did and the message got back to the parents and so numbers increased on the two days.

"Also, quite a few youngsters of my grandson's age turned up for a second go.

"They had tried the sport a few years ago, got into other ones and came back. That was great. But there were also a few four-year-olds around too."

Sussex tennis development officer Charlotte Slade said: "I visited Comptons in Horsham, which is quite a big club, and West Worthing and the numbers looked good and I believe they've got new members out of it. The initative benefits smaller clubs. It's fantastic for Newhaven."

Other Sussex clubs who took part in the Play Tennis also included The Weald (Hassocks), Plumpton, Rye, ROMPA (Eastbourne), The Green (St Leonards), Hampden Park (Eastbourne), Field Place (Worthing), Hurstpierpoint, Pavilion and Avenue (Hove), Midhurst, Crablands (Selsey), Horam, Crawley Down, Horsham, Bognor and Angmering.

Kimberly Dell (Eastbourne) won the women's singles and doubles titles at the National Wheelchair Championships in Sheffield.