A yearly tennis membership scheme has been frozen to new members due to "unprecedented demand".

Play Tennis Richmond runs 44 courts across 11 venues in the area on behalf of Richmond Council.

The courts were reopened in late May after the Covid-19 pandemic brought play to a halt.

But just weeks later, the £50 family membership which was open to all and allowed members to book a court for up to 90 minutes every day has been suspended.

Richmond Nub News understands 'no shows', where members booked a court and didn't turn up, led to courts being booked to capacity yet not used.

A difficult decision

A message on the Play Tennis Richmond website reads: "We took the very difficult decision last Monday (15th June 2020) to temporarily suspend the membership option to new members.

"The membership will be suspended for a further week until 29th June 2020 and this will continue to be reviewed on a weekly basis.

"We have taken this decision due to the unprecedented use of our tennis courts as over half of our sites are fully booked this week and the remaining sites are close to capacity.

"It is still possible to book a court on a pay and play basis if you are able to find an available court.

"Please revisit this page next Monday 29th June 2020 for an update at around 12pm."

The 11 venues included in the scheme are: Cambridge Gardens, Carlisle Park, King George's Field, Kings Field, Kneller Gardens, Moor Mead, Old Deer Park, Palewell Common, Sheen Common, Westerley Ware and York House Gardens.

It costs £8 an hour for non-members.

An email to members went into further details about why no new people can join.

Frustration at empty booked courts

It read: "The courts are incredibly busy at the moment as I am sure you are aware and it is extremely inconsiderate behaviour that results in these slots going to waste when people are struggling to book a court.

"I know it is an overused word but the tennis courts are currently receiving unprecedented demand and it is incredibly frustrating to see an empty court that could have been used by another member.

"In addition, for clarification the vast majority of no shows on bookings are members and not the tennis coaching providers who deliver coaching on some of the sites."