TENNIS players have voted to block a bold request to switch their established Spa club to a new site.

The appeal from Wychavon District Council sparked lively talks among the 330-strong Droitwich Spa Lawn Tennis Club, based at St Peter's Field courts for the past 30 years.

It emerged on Monday that Wychavon District Council, in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), is keen to build four new indoor tennis courts in Droitwich Spa.

According to tennis club chairman Robert Carr, the council needs to sell the land the club uses at present, to gain the majority of the funding for the scheme.

The authority asked the club if they would be happy to move to the Spa's Briar Mill leisure centre at a meeting with the LTA on Wednesday, October 1.

But Mr Carr confirmed the majority of those that attended, were against the move, although it was by a narrow margin.

"The club itself would not gain financially from moving. We only lease the land from Wychavon District Council," Mr Carr explained.

"However, there were concerns that we would lose control of the club. The diagram at the meeting was not very attractive and the courts were situated next to football pitches. We are very lucky where we are presently situated and we felt we would lose the general ambience."

Herefordshire and Worcestershire LTA county development officer Simon Thomas said the proposal is in its early stages: "We had a meeting two weeks ago with the club but they rejected the initial proposal, so we are looking to speak to them again.

"At present we only have two indoor court facilities in Herefordshire and Worcestershire and by building another, we hope to introduce an all-year coaching programme and encourage more people into the sport."

Wychavon District Council confirmed that they had been in talks with the tennis club to enhance facilities in the town. But it refused to comment further, deeming the matter 'private'.