A CITY couple are hoping to set up Worcester's first petanque club after developing a love for the game while spending their winters in Spain.

For the last 10 years, Ian and Clarice Mortimer, from Dover Avenue, have spent October to April in Nerja, southern Spain and enjoy playing the game with friends on the beach.

However, there are currently no suitable facilities in the city and, more importantly, a lack of people to play with, so 76-year-old Ian is appealing for Worcester residents interested in staging or taking part in the sport to contact him.

He said: "My wife and I always play petanque when we go to Spain and we would love to be able to play while we are in Worcester to keep our eye in.

"We are hoping to form a petanque club here, and if there are any sports clubs or publicans that would like to play host to such a club, if one can be formed, we would like to hear from them.

"There are clubs in Redditch, Evesham and Leamington Spa, but they are a bit too far away to travel to for a game so, if there is enough interest, we hope to set up a club here."

Ian has mooted his plan to the West Midlands Region of the British Petanque Association, who have given it their approval as well as offering support and coaching.

Anyone interested in playing, or hosting, the sport in Worcester should contact Ian on 01905-458258.