Free tennis is up for grabs in Carlisle this weekend at the newly rejuvenated Bitts Park courts.

Locals and visitors are invited to participate, regardless of experience or skill level.

The offer is part of the Barclays Big Tennis Weekend, organised by the Cumbria Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).

The free activities are scheduled for Saturday, between 8am - 8pm, and Sunday from 2pm to 8pm.

The bookings can be made on the Bitts Park Tennis Club website.

GLL and Cumbria Tennis, managers of the site on behalf of Cumberland Council, have facilitated these engagements to promote physical activity and mental well-being via tennis.

Bitts Park boasts eight transformed tennis courts, courtesy of a significant £81,407.38 investment.

Backed by the Cumberland Council, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), GLL and Cumbria Lawn Tennis Association, this project started in 2023 and has ensured that high-quality facilities are accessible for local communities.

The courts have been renovated with new nets, resurfacing and a new gate system.

Additionally, four mini tennis courts have been overlaid, with an entire repaint of the courts done for that sparkly new look.

The transformation forms part of a larger nationwide project by the LTA Tennis Foundation which has seen more than 1,500 other courts revamped across the UK.

This £30m investment feeds into an initiative aimed at reviving rundown or unplayable courts and enhancing accessibility with new gate-access technologies and booking systems.

This massive revamp isn't just for show; it's about rekindling the love for tennis, and providing free-to-use facilities, especially for people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, women, girls, and those new to the sport.

In addition to the delightful new courts, weekly Barclays Free Park Tennis sessions will also be run on the park sites in coordination with the LTA, courtesy of Cumberland Council.

Locals of all ages, abilities, and involvement in the sport can join in, with volunteers providing equipment.

The Local Tennis Leagues are also set to provide friendly, sociable opportunities to get active through local competitions.

To take advantage of these opportunities and book a court in Bitts Park, prospective players can visit the LTA website.

Cumberland Council councillor Anne Quilter, portfolio holder for vibrant and healthy places said: "The Bitts Park tennis courts have been completely transformed and are another great asset for our area. Health and wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do and providing quality facilities is an important way to encourage our residents to get active.

"The launch event, organised soon after Wimbledon, will hopefully inspire people of all ages to make a visit."

Julie Porter, chief operating officer at the LTA, said: "We are delighted to be working with Cumberland Council to improve their park tennis facilities and provide more opportunities for anyone to pick up a racket and get active.

"This investment is part of the LTA’s Parks Tennis Project and will mean that courts will be available for people to use for years to come. We will also be working closely with the council to ensure that the local community have a range of accessible opportunities to get on court and open up our sport to many more people."