Tennis players wanting to use the courts at Southwark Park will need to make an online reservation when a new system is introduced from Thursday 9 July.

The online booking system was due to be launched in April but was delayed due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Bookings can be made up to seven days in advance using the Tennis in Southwark website, and individuals can reserve up to one hour a day.

Southwark Council says the booking scheme will “address the frustration of waiting for courts that is experienced at the moment”.

Greg Rusedski this week visited Southwark Park to unveil two new tennis courts.

The new courts were funded with £80,000 through Bermondsey & Rotherhithe Community Council’s Cleaner Greener Safer grants fund, with the London Marathon Charitable Trust also contributing £50,000 to the project.

Cllr Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member of public health, parks and leisure said, “The demand for tennis facilities in the borough has been increasing amongst local people of all ages, especially with the recent success of some of the UK’s top players.

“With almost 10,000 people visiting the park’s existing courts last year, these two new courts will provide accessible and quality facilities, and mean greater availability for everyone – especially children and young people in the borough keen to take up the sport.”

Former British number one Greg Rusedski said: “It is fantastic to see councils like Southwark investing in grassroots sport in this way.

“Accessible facilities are so important to getting young people especially involved in tennis, and who knows they could be playing at Wimbledon one day too.”