FLOODLIGHTS have finally arrived at a tennis club in Bentley after members tried for 15 years to get them.

The lights at Old Brentwoods Tennis Club were officially used for the first time on Saturday during a ceremony at their home in Ashwells Road.

Money for the structures which cover three courts came through grants from Essex Environment Trust, Communities Initiatives Fund and Brentwood Communities Fund totalling £17,244.

Members also raised £3,000 through events at the club such as quiz nights.

The arrival of the lights ends a 15 year wait for the club who first tried getting funding in 1999.

Pete Newton, club secretary, said having fully lit courts will allow for more time for tennis to be played throughout the year.

Mr Newton said: “With the floodlights now installed the tennis club can offer coaching throughout the year to the local community.

“It also means that our home tennis matches are not just crammed into the summer months when it was often difficult to finish the matches because of poor light.

“Having been a member at the club for over 20 years I am delighted that the club now has floodlights installed and members are now able to play tennis at the club every evening all year round.”

During the ceremony which begun at 6pm, younger members of the club were given the honour of switching on the lights for the first time.

A blessing was also done to the floodlights by Brentwood School chaplain Rev Adrian McConnaughie and Revd John Prothero from Brentwood Baptist church.