ULVERSTON'S indoor tennis centre is to get the royal seal of approval when the Duchess of Gloucester arrives to officially open the facility on May 14.

The Duchess is due to meet the centre's staff and players who have benefited from practising at the £638,000 covered courts, which opened last year.

The Danish-born Duchess, Birgitte van Deurs, is married to the Queen's first cousin and is honorary president of The Lawn Tennis Association, which developed the facility with South Lakeland District Council and Ulverston Town Council.

While in Furness she will also be visiting Cumbria Crystal at Ulverston and Croft Care Trust Home at Barrow.