A new tennis airhall was officially unveiled today at Gosling Sports Park in Welwyn by Grant Shapps MP.

Part of the facility's International High Performance Tennis Centre, the addition of the four-court airhall - a bubble dome - was made possible by a £400,000 grant from Sport England through the Lawn Tennis Association and support from Hertfordshire Lawn Tennis Association.

Matt Willcocks, Tennis Director at Gosling, said: "The construction of the tennis bubble is already making a huge difference to our tennis offering at Gosling Sports Park. The bubble has enabled our coaching team to continue the drive to get more people into the sport and therefore providing them the opportunity to achieve their potential.

"By building on the success of our performance programme here at Gosling we have used our expertise, in partnership with Hertfordshire Lawn Tennis Association and other funding bodies, to provide further opportunities to schools, clubs and other members of the community, regardless of age, ability and ambition. We are already seeing that this development is enabling more people to realise their potential."

Caroline Blincoe, LTA Head of Club and County Relations, added: "Thanks to Sport England we were delighted to be able to provide the outstanding Gosling IHPC with this investment.

"Court bubbles make a huge difference to the number of playing hours in winter, so are a priority as we work to boost regular participation in tennis. Improving and increasing facilities for the whole community is central to the LTA's overarching plan for British Tennis as we work to increase the number of people playing tennis, keep people in the game and support talented players to achieve their potential."

The tennis centre at the 50-acre Gosling Sports Park also includes nine indoor championship acrylic courts, four covered American clay courts and five outdoor floodlit synthetic grass courts.