TENNIS fans Oscar Metcalf and Edward James netted the game of a lifetime when they won the chance to meet their hero, Tim Henman.

The two youngsters, both pupils at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn, won the prize after Oscar's mum Kim entered a competition run by Sainsbury's supermarket and drink manufacturer Robinson's.

And they had a chance to take on Britain's number one at his own game.

The two boys, both aged eight, together with Kim, a legal executive and her friend Beverley Jenkinson, a solicitor, were treated like stars on a two-day trip to the capital.

They were put up in a plush hotel and were given a VIP tour of Wimbledon, including a visit to the tennis museum, a look round the legendary No1 court and a behind-the-scenes sneaky peek inside the ladies changing rooms. But the highlight of the day was being taken by chauffeur-driven limousine to the Queen's Club where they had lunch with Henman and had the chance to have a knock-around the tennis court with the British Number One.

And to round off the day the foursome were even presented with tennis rackets and T-shirts to commemorate their special day.

Kim, 38, from Eagle Street, Oswaldtwistle, said: "We were on holiday when we got the news that I had won so it was a huge surprise. At first we thought that we had just got tickets for next year's Wimbledon, so to find out we were to meet Tim Henman personally was a massive shock.

"There were only us and four other winners and their families there so it was very personal and we all had a great time.

"Both boys have been playing tennis since they were five so this was a fantastic opportunity for."

Beverley, 35, from Accrington, said: "It was an absolutely fantastic day.

"Tim was a real gent and an absolute star.

"It was great to be able to look round Wimbledon and particularly see the changing rooms, which you don't see on TV. It was like being in a five star hotel.

"When we had lunch Tim came and sat with us and chatted to us about football

"He told us he was a big supporter of Oxford United and when we mentioned Blackburn Rovers he said he had a lot of respect for Graeme Souness.

"He had just got back from Morocco where he had been taking part in the Davis Cup and I think he was a bit disappointed at how badly they had done.

"We expected him to be a bit posh and a bit of a toff, but he was really down to earth.

"He invited us to have a knockabout on the court with him and although I declined the boys really wanted to and he stayed on the court with him for about half an hour. It really was a fantastic day."