Wem Tennis Club has strengthened its ‘forehand’ after announcing it has bagged £1,000 from Tesco’s Bags of Help community grant scheme.

The club, in Park Road, were awarded the money after shoppers in Whitchurch’s Tesco store gave them their backing with little blue tokens.

The money will help breathe new life into the club’s public court, helping them offer free taster lessons, while club spokesman Paul Ellis was delighted.

“The club has updated its public court following the grant of £1,000,” he said. “The court needed urgent remedial work and repainting.

“The tennis court situated on the recreation ground is the only public court in Wem and following this successful project, we would offer free taster lessons to members of the public and schoolchildren, to encourage them to play tennis.

“Furthermore, the club’s coach Harrison Gwilt would visit local schools to promote this initiative.

“We are very grateful to Tesco for contributing towards the cost of this project from its Tesco Bags of Help initiative.”

Alec Brown, Tesco’s Head of Community, added: “Bags of Help has been a fantastic success and we’ve been overwhelmed by the response from customers.

“It’s such a special scheme because it’s local people who decide how the money will be spent in their community. We can’t wait to see the projects come to life.”

Voting ran in stores throughout September and October with customers choosing which project they would like to get the top award using a token given to them at the checkout.

Tesco customers get the chance to vote for three different groups each time they shop. Every other month, when votes are collected, three groups in each of Tesco’s regions are awarded funding.

Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities. Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online. To find out more visit www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp