LED is the Charitable Trust which manages several Exmouth Leisure Facilities including Exmouth Leisure Centre, Exmouth Tennis and Fitness Centre and Exmouth Pavilion, as well as the sports facilities in Phear Park.

Together with many local Exmouth residents, LED wants to see facilities in Phear Park improved and has applied for funding to secure £200,000 of investment in community sport to provide three new competition standard tennis courts as well as a multi sports area for basketball, netball and soccer.

LED has put up £50,000 from its charitable fund and has applied to the Exmouth Sports Fund for a grant of £75,000. LED has also been offered matched funding for the tennis courts from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), which would then secure the £200,000 required.

Speaking ahead of the Exmouth Sports Fund voting taking place from 27th May, LED Chief Executive Peter Gilpin said: "The LTA has already indicated that they would contribute 50% of the capital for the tennis courts to go alongside any funds raised by LED. A further contribution from the Exmouth Sports Fund would therefore be multiplied nearly three times to provide a fantastic addition to the Park."

"Providing better outdoor tennis opportunities for youngsters and adults in Phear Park, alongside our six existing indoor courts at the neighbouring Tennis Centre, should also help LED to provide indoor competitive facilities for both basketball and netball at the Tennis Centre by enabling us to adapt the two separate acrylic courts for other sports as well."

LED Head of Business Development Mike Hooper urged all LED customers, local sports clubs and sports players to support LED by voting for the Phear Park developments. He added:

"Working in partnership with the Exmouth Community College and the Devon County Cricket Association, we hope to provide exciting new opportunities in the heart of Exmouth for tennis, basketball, netball, cricket and athletics. Add these to the other indoor and outdoor leisure facilities in the town, as well as the amazing water sports, and it is easy to foresee Exmouth establishing itself as a major sports venue in the future."

Voting for Exmouth Sports Funding starts on Friday 27th May at the Manor Gardens from 4pm until 7pm. Further voting takes place on Saturday 28th May at Littleham (12-2pm) and the Strand (3-5pm) , on Monday 30th May at the Strand (12noon - 3pm) and on 4th June at the Kite festival (2pm-5pm). Visit www.eastdevon.gov.uk for details on the Exmouth Sports Fund.