CREWE'S Hightown Tennis Club is preparing to throw open its courts again as grassroots sport returns.

The Gainsborough Road club has been closed since December, but will mark its reopening on March 29 by offering a 50 per cent discount for existing members after receiving a Covid-19 support grant.

Adult and youth sport was given the green light to resume this month as part of Boris Johnson's four-step roadmap out of lockdown announced on February 22.

Outdoor gatherings of either up to six people or two households will be allowed later in March as part of the new rulings, while sports, including football, golf and tennis, will be allowed to restart.

Hightown will open for singles and doubles and club sessions for thee 2021 season will also be held on Wednesdays (6pm), Thursdays (10am) and Saturdays (2pm)

But Hightown President Bill Kynaston stressed: "For safety reasons the pavilion will remain closed and sanitising equipment will be available."

Members are being asked again, as they were last year, not to socialise off court, remember the two-metre rule and to wash their hands when entering or leaving the courts.

Helped by the government grant, the club is slashing membership to £47.50 for adults, £20 juniors and £30 for students/unemployed.

Subscriptions are due on April 1 and have to be paid April 17. All new members have to pay the full membership fee.