A VALLEY tennis club has turned to the community to help it find new premises.

Holcombe Brook Sports Club has been looking for a new site for more than a year, after Bury Council controversially refused its bid to move to greenbelt land off Hazel Hall Lane, Summerseat, in December 2005.

The refusal, though welcomed by some neighbouring residents, came as a blow to hundreds of club members and supporters.

As well as teaching tennis to members, the club allows local schools including Woodhey High, Ramsbottom, to use its facilities free of charge, and is involved in coaching at primary level.

Tony Lawson, secretary of the Longsight Road club, said: "The club has outgrown its current premises, which it has occupied since 1926. Since then we've developed into the area's major tennis club.

"But to secure the club's future we desperately need to move."

The club has identified potential new sites and is asking the public which one they prefer, by means of 7,000 leaflets delivered in Ramsbottom, Summerseat and Holcombe Brook.

On Friday, the club held a public exhibition, displaying the plans for the three suggested sites - Hazel Hall Lane, Summerseat Lane South and Summerseat Lane North.

Residents were asked to rate the three options in order.

Mr Lawson said: "We were very pleased with the response. We had between 500 and 600 people turn out, a big show of public interest.

"One of the options is looking like the favourite, but we are giving residents until the end of the week to submit their views."

The club committee will use the feedback to prepare a planning application by April, which would mean a decision by August.