ACE! Work has finally started on building York's long-awaited £11 million indoor tennis centre.

The 105,000 sq ft, two-storey club complex in Hull Road - which will create 100 jobs and could end up with more than 5,000 members - is to open next October.

It will include:

* Six indoor and five outdoor tennis courts

* Three squash and four badminton courts, plus a basketball court

* Indoor and outdoor swimming pools, plus children's indoor and outdoor splash pools.

There will also be a restaurant, bar, gymnasium, a children's gymnasium, fitness centre, hair and beauty salon, aerobic studio and a children's mini-cinema.

The Evening Press launched its Everyone for Tennis campaign in 1999 in support of former Wimbledon ace David Lloyd's efforts to open indoor tennis facilities in York.

Players who had to travel to Leeds or Hull for indoor winter play threw their weight behind the campaign.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott gave Lloyd's company, Next Generation Clubs, the go-ahead for the scheme in September last year.

But it faced objections from the Woodlands Respite Care Centre next door, which cares for multiple sclerosis sufferers.

During the planning process, managers from the home objected to the noise and disturbance which the centre would cause and were disappointed with Mr Prescott's decision.

In October, the size of the tennis centre was reduced, but Woodlands staff were still left with concerns about the proximity of the centre to patients needing respite.

Donald Watt, head of operations at Next Generation Clubs, said the firm had had a number of problems to sort out since the permission was granted.

"But now everything is in place, and I would expect the centre to be open after a work schedule of about 40 weeks."

David Lloyd's son, Scott, who is managing director of Next Generation, said: "When our new centre opens, the people of York and district will have the chance to team unbeatable facilities with the expertise of professional sportsmen and women, bringing something truly unique to the city."

Next Generation is in partnership with York St John College over the centre, built on land formerly owned by the college.

Under the deal, college students will have regular access to club facilities built into their timetable, plus the opportunity to gain work and research experience.

Dr Andy Smith, head of the college's School of Sport Science & Psychology, said: "Sports staff and students are looking forward to the opening of the York Next Generation Club.

"It will add a whole new dimension to our teaching and research. This development is the first phase in our schedule of exciting new facilities for sport students."

Updated: 11:01 Monday, December 17, 2001