BOLTON Arena is one of only four leisure complexes in the country to become a "hub centre" for tennis.

The Middlebrook centre was selected for the prestigious role after bosses from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) visited all 110 applicants to compare tennis programmes, coaching quality and the standard of players.

An experienced panel included Tim Henman's ex-coach David Felgate, now the LTA's director of performance, former British tennis pro Mark Cox and Rebecca Miskin, LTA's director of tennis development.

The Arena will now set the standards for other leisure centres striving to receive the same recognition. It will also mean substantial financial support from the LTA, which will provide continued funding over a number of years to help develop junior tennis players in Bolton, with an end goal to produce national and international players.

Managing director at the Arena, Mike Bain, sees the recognition as a step in the right direction.

He said: "This support from the LTA shows they have confidence in what we do for tennis and really puts Bolton on the map for tennis.

"One of the key factors in us getting the hub status was our Rivington and Blackrod Academy, which is a unique partnership that allows pupils at the school to have regular tennis coaching as part of their school day.

"The judges were able to see the natural progression from the grass roots six and seven-year-olds, through the academy, then on to the full-time squad."

Three other centres, in Nottingham, Sutton in Surrey and Batchwood, Hertfordshire, have been selected as hub centres, with the LTA aiming to list 10 centres across the country within the first two years of the scheme.

A spokesman for the LTA said: "We can confirm that Bolton has been chosen as one of the country's first key performance centres, subject to terms and conditions."