A £374,000 scheme of works to renovate three public park tennis courts in Lowestoft will begin next week.

The revamp comes after Lowestoft Town Council and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) agreed a partnership that will "breathe new life into local park tennis courts" in the town.

The scheme to invest in and refurbish public park tennis courts will see three park tennis venues - at Normanston Park, Kensington Gardens and Denes Oval in Lowestoft - renovated.

A Lowestoft Town Council spokesman said: "Work on improving the tennis courts at Normanston Park is scheduled to begin on February 5.

"As part of a scheme in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association, the improvement works will see the public tennis courts fully upgraded with the courts remaining free to use for residents and visitors once the work is completed in spring 2024.

"The works will see all six tennis courts upgraded with three of the courts maintaining their all-weather carpet surface and the other three becoming hard courts."

The town council said that while the improvement works are ongoing in the park, a diversion around the tennis courts will be in place which will take pedestrians and cyclists "onto grassy areas which may become slippery."

The spokesman added: "Please also adhere to all safety and restricted access signs while in the park."

With a total of 16 tennis courts and eight pickleball courts at Normanston Park, Kensington Gardens and Denes Oval set to be upgraded, the works include resurfacing, new access gates and an online booking system - along with floodlights at Denes Oval only.

As works are due to be completed in the spring, £174,000 was secured from the LTA/UK Government with Lowestoft Town Council contributing around £200,000.

Alongside the investment in refurbishing the courts, Lowestoft Town Council will also work with the LTA to deliver a range of activities across the venues.

The spokesman added: "Work on the tennis courts in Kensington Gardens is scheduled to begin in late February."