WINCHESTER is the next city to jump on a sport trend that is hitting an ace across the country.

The Racquets and Fitness Club in Bereweeke Road has been given planning permission to convert two of its 17 courts into padel tennis courts.

General manager Billy Kerr hopes this will encourage more people to get into the game, which is one of the most popular sports in Spain.

He told the Chronicle: “This is a good way to introduce it to the people of Winchester.

“All 17 of our courts are rarely in use at the same time so hopefully this will be a welcome change.

“People who love tennis but are perhaps not quite as agile anymore, want to play with their family or just want to try a new sport will see the advantage; the court is smaller, you can play off the back wall similar to squash and the racket is bigger.

“We first started thinking about padel around three years ago and it has grown in the UK ever since.”

The new courts are expected to be ready in October.

Members will be able to play on them until 9pm. The clubhouse will remain open until 11pm as usual.