AN Atherton school has served up an ace for tennis fans.

Pupils at Hesketh Fletcher High have contributed cash towards a facelift for the park courts they play on in summer.

Now the town's budding Agassis and Williams can now practise their skills at the refurbished Morley Street Park thanks to the partnership between the school and community leaders.

Council bosses had already upgraded two courts and the fencing, but work on the other courts was due to take many years . . . until Hesketh Fletcher stepped in with an offer of help.

The resurfacing of the other four courts was paid for by funds from the High School, Atherton Building Communities (ABC) regeneration project and £2,000 from the Atherton councillors' Brighter Borough money.

Head teacher Dr Ted Walker said: "We are pleased to contribute, as our pupils use the park facilities and we like to see any opportunity to be a part of our community.

"We already work closely with the parks office and leisure's tennis coach and look forward to seeing the courts busy in summer.

"Contributions from the Department for Education and Employment were particularly important in helping us to make this happen."

Atherton Councillor Sue Loudon said: "It is three years since we funded the improvement of two of the courts and now we have been able to complete the scheme.

"Hesketh Fletcher and the leisure department have worked hard to secure the funds.

"We congratulate them and look forward to seeing some good tennis matches there in the future."