SARAH Hillier has won a prestigious honour for her contribution to tennis.

The Rainford Tennis Club head coach, 31, walked away from the 2022 Lancashire Tennis Awards crowned as Development Coach of the Year.

She was presented with her prize at an annual ceremony in Preston as she was recognised for all her efforts in growing the sport in her home village of Rainford.

Since becoming head coach in early 2021, there are now more adults and children attending weekly coaching sessions in Rainford than at any stage over the last 10 years.

Judges were impressed with how she had delivered free tennis sessions in the three primary schools in the village, as well as with local beavers, cubs, scouts, rainbows, brownies, guides and boys' brigade groups to introduce as many children as possible to tennis.

Sarah has also developed the coaching team by recruiting level 2, 3 and 4 coaches while also training tennis leaders and volunteers to help deliver the programme at the club.

Added to that, she has also developed competitions for members to help improve their skills.

As well as her work at Rainford, Sarah is the coach for the Lancashire 10 and under g'irls team who reached the national finals of the LTA County Cup and also coaches weekly Lancashire county training squads in various age groups.