Last December the Bury Times revealed £250,000 was being offered by town hall chiefs to upgrade courts and nets at six locations.

And following a pilot project involving St Mary's Park in Prestwich, in association with the authority's Live Well service, revamps went ahead at Nuttall Park in Ramsbottom, Bury's Openshaw, Whitehead and Manchester Road parks, Hamilton Road Park in Whitefield and Bolton Road Park in Radcliffe.

And now similar work is set to be carried out at Clarence Park in Bury, Tottington's Town Meadow Park and Close Park in Radcliffe.

Following a tendering exercise, a bid by Bury-based Groundwork Landscapes has been accepted.

Another contract for overseeing the electrics has gone to PRE Electrical Solutions, of Chamberhall Street.

The council's streetscene department will provide technical support.

In a report by Carly Heselwood, principal sports development officer, it says: "Bury Council’s long-standing partnership with The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has helped to secure external funding for the access gates and installations."

The LTA has worked with CIA Fire and Security on developing access controls for tennis courts as part of their 'clubspark' scheme.

While a funding applications has been made for Clarence Park, business cases have since been drawn up and submitted for Town Meadow and Close parks.

Council operations director Donna Ball, in agreement with Cllr Andrea Simpson, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, has agreed to the release capital funding for the initiative.