NIGEL Evans is hoping to serve up an advantage for East Lancs tennis-loving youngsters.

The Ribble Valley MP wants to see school courts opened up for young players hoping to follow in the footsteps of Tim Henman and Andy Murray.

And he has met John Crowther, the chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association, to win backing for his plan to produce a new generation of British Wimbledon stars.

They discussed the problem of finding courts for youngsters who weren't members of tennis clubs.

Tennis is widely seen as a middle class game and too few "ordinary" kids were being persuaded to join clubs, unlike in the United States and Australia where the game is seen as a way to fame and fortune for children from poorer families.

Mr Evans asked Mr Crowther what was the best way to produce young tennis players such as Scotland's Murray and Longridge-raised 18-year-old Myles Blake, ranked 62nd in the world junior game.

The Tory MP said: "I raised the question of how to open up tennis courts at schools over the Easter and summer holidays. They close at the moment because of problems with staffing and insurance.

"We need to solve this and get them opened up so as many young people as possible can play tennis. Interest in Tim and Andy is still high and we need to capitalise on that.

"We need some form of blanket insurance for schools so they are not terrified of having to make big compensation payments if someone breaks a leg.

"Mr Crowther has promised to look into this and meet with local education authorities and other relevant bodies.

"We also need to look at issues of staffing and supervising the courts. There are a number of schools in East Lancashire which have courts, like Longridge High and Stonyhurst.

"It's absurd that they are locked up during the Easter and summer holidays when young-sters could be playing.

"I promised Mr Crowther I would fully support any initiative from the LTA."

Tennis is already being used to keep unruly youngsters occupied in Colne. A new club is being set up in Alkincoats Park at Easter by Pendle Leisure Trust after police and civic leaders highlighted the area as a juvenile nuisance hotspot.