A BARRY tennis club’s young members had a date with sporting royalty when they earned a visit to London’s historic Queen’s Club, recently.

Barry Community Tennis Club members won a trip to the 2015 Aegon Championships as it celebrated its inaugural ATP World Tour 500 event, ahead of Wimbledon.

Eight of its mini tennis players and two coaches earned the invite, after the club's Highland Spring mini tennis month sessions proved to be the most popular in the UK.

Having attracted more than 240 players onto court for the club's free parent & child sessions during April, the club was rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some of its future stars to have a coaching session on the astroturf at the club.

The children also got the chance to rack up some points against former World No 8, Mikhail Youzhny.

Following their on court experience, the players got to watch practice sessions around the grounds, and witnessed play from players including Jamie Murray, Marin Cilic, John Isner, Nick Kyrgios, reigning champion Grigor Dimitrov, Ross Hutchings and some top ATP doubles players, as well as catching glimpses of Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray as they each concluded their first practice sessions of the tournament.

Coaches Penny Mickelsen and Tom Butler-Sainsbury, from Vale Tennis Academy who provide the coaching for Barry Community Tennis Club as well as other venues across the Vale, accompanied the children said it had been an inspirational opportunity for everyone involved.

Penny said: "The children did their club, their hometown and their respective schools proud. They behaved impeccably throughout the day and played really well with the elite player.

"I am sure that this experience will remain with the children for a very long time, and it may even inspire some of them to become professional tennis players themselves."