A CAMPAIGN to resurface the tennis courts at Droitwich Spa Lido Park has been backed by local schoolchildren.

Pupils from Westacre Middle School and St Peter’s Church of England First School have chosen to support the £40,000 Let's Play Tennis campaign.

Westacre students held a bake sale and raised £70 for the cause, while youngsters from St Peter's held a fancy dress day to raised £368.49.

Paul Barber, assistant headteacher at Westacre, said: "We are delighted to be supporting the Let’s Play Tennis campaign. The fact that we received enough cakes to hold one sale at break time and one at the end of lunch shows what a caring community we have at Westacre.

"Thank you to all pupils, parents and staff who donated or purchased the cakes – you have helped to make a real difference to our local community and we hope it encourages the rest of the town to get behind this inspirational cause."

Both schools recently handed the money they had raised over to Droitwich mum Elaine Newman, who kick-started the campaign.

The mum-of-two said: "It's absolutely fantastic that the schoolchildren from Westacre and St Peter’s have got behind this campaign so emphatically – I cannot thank them enough for their support."

The fundraiser needs to reach a target of £20,000, when Wychavon District Council will match-fund the figure.

She continued to say: "With the proposed support to come from Wychavon District Council when we reach our target, it will be amazing to then have some of the best courts in the area right on our doorstep for people to use whenever they want and for free."

Lynn Stevens, senior parks and greenspace officer at Wychavon, said: "We’re really pleased that Elaine has chosen to fundraise for the tennis courts and we hope plenty more local people, like the children at Westacre and St Peter’s, will decide to support the Let’s Play Tennis campaign.

"If she can raise half the money needed, then together we should be able to upgrade the playing surface of the tennis courts so that they can be enjoyed by tennis players today, and for generations to come."

For more information about the campaign, visit crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Droitwich-tennis-courts or search Let’s Play Tennis in Droitwich Spa Lido Park on Facebook.