CROSS Hills Tennis Club are taking part in the Great British Tennis Weekend on Saturday, June 13.

Free coaching is available at the club from 10am-noon, and sessions can be booked via clubspark.lta.org.uk/OpenDays/ and enter Cross Hills in the search box.

Interested pupils are asked to bring a racquet if they have one, although one will be provided if not, and balls and opponents will also be provided.

The sessions at Cross Hills are among thousands of free events taking place across the country, while members are invited to volunteer to help at the Aegon Ilkley Trophy, which runs from Saturday, June 13 to Sunday, June 21.

The Wimbledon warm-up tournament is the highest ranking tournament ever to be held in Yorkshire, and involves a 42,500 euros ATP Challenger for men and a $50,000 ITF Pro Circuit event for women.

Members can also apply for free tickets for the opening sessions of the tournament at http://ilkleytrophy.iltsc.co.uk/.

A year ago, Cross Hills' new clubhouse was being rebuilt, and now junior coaching there is thriving on Fridays (4pm for six to nine-year-olds, 5pm for ten to 16 year olds).

Both groups are coached by Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club's Samantha Forde, who also coached at Cross Hills last year.

A total of 18 students attend the two groups, six of whom came to the 2014 sessions.

Forde said: "We are working on players moving their feet, aiming for a ten-shot rally in the warm-up, remembering their technique and what they have been learning .

“The students get the benefit of being outside and competing at a sport. They get exercise and are able to play with their mates.

"Who knows how far some of these students may go with their tennis?

For most though, the important things are life skills, including court etiquette and good manners to other players.”