NHS staff and key workers can get cut-price tennis lessons as a way to unwind after a stressful few months.

Gravesham Tennis Club is saying thank you with a new programme of subsidised one-to-one tennis coaching.

Hundreds of pounds of worth of coaching hours are being made available to critical workers who have worked hard over the past few months in extraordinary circumstances.

Funding for the initiative has been secured through a small grant from Kent Sport and Physical Activity Service.

Rob Powell, committee member at the tennis club, said: "These heavily subsidised one-to-one coaching sessions allow us to say thank you to the key workers who have been so important to us all over the past few months and it's a great opportunity for them to come and enjoy a lesson with our LTA-certified coaches at a greatly reduced price."

He added: "This is a great way to try tennis for the first time or return to the game if you've played before. There's absolutely no obligation to join, although further offers are available for those interested."

The one hour long one-to-one sessions cost key workers just £5 instead of £30, subject to availability. Sessions can be booked by contacting the club via graveshamtennis.com

The club has also recently run an arts and crafts competition for its junior members to show their thanks to NHS and other workers with paintings and models.

Gravesham Tennis Club is in the grounds of Gravesend Rugby Club and was one of the first sports clubs to reopen as the gradual lifting of lockdown started. A number of measures have been taken to make the venue safe for play including sanitiser stations at court entrances and the observance of social distancing.

The club, previously open only to members, has now also made selected group coaching and court hire time available for non-members to come and enjoy tennis throughout the week.

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend