The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and Tennis for Free (TFF) have announced a joint partnership deal designed to help increase the number of people playing the sport in the UK.

The programme will include a combination of capital and revenue investment by the LTA to improve tennis facilities and the initiatives on offer to increase participation numbers.

Facilities that qualify for extra LTA funding will then benefit from TFF working with local coaches to provide free tennis coaching.

Roger Draper, chief executive of LTA, said: "This partnership is part of a wider, affordable, sustainable programme to try to grow tennis in Great Britain.

"Together we're exploring how we can work effectively with local authorities to make tennis more inclusive and accessible in the community."

Paul Jessop, chief executive of TFF, added: "Building up community grassroots tennis is vital to the future of the game in the UK. We are looking forward to working with the LTA to develop new projects than can make a real difference."