THE tennis courts in Ilminster will be closed until further notice after “deliberate damage” was caused to its gate.

The town council said damage was caused to the gates and the hinges after it was forced open.

A spokesperson for Ilminster Town Council said: “As a result of deliberate damage caused to the tennis courts gate, we have unfortunately had to close the tennis courts until further notice.

“Having forced the gate open the hinges have been damaged. This means that the installers will need to come to assess the full extent of the damage before they can be reopened.

“The police have been notified, but if anyone saw the damage being done or knows anything at all about it could they please notify the town council as soon as possible.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: “We were called shortly after 10.15am this morning to a report of vandalism at Ilminster Recreation Ground in Ilminster.

“It was reported that the gates to the tennis courts had been damaged at some point during the afternoon of Saturday, March 16.

“Enquiries are ongoing. If you have any information or footage which could help our enquiries, please call 101 and quote reference 5224069560.”

Last month, the tennis courts were temporarily closed to allow work for a new path that will make them “more accessible in the future”.

At the time, a message from Ilminster Town Council said: “The final piece of the jigsaw. Next week, the public tennis courts will be closed from Monday 26 February to Friday 1 March.

“This is because a new path from Canal Way to the new gate of the tennis courts will be constructed, and the courts will not be accessible while the work is being carried out.

“The small mound alongside the Canal Way side of the tennis courts will be levelled and the earth used to build up the path to the level of the courts.

“Then a layer of Conipave will be used to finish it off.”

The tennis courts were refurbished in August last year.

The works are part of a scheme involving Somerset Council and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) who have partnered together to invest in and refurbish public park tennis courts across the county.