Age is proving to be no barrier for tennis lover Derek Schofield, who is still playing twice a week at 90.

Schofield is a popular member of the thriving veterans’ group at Holcombe Brook Tennis Club and has no plans to hang up his racket as he heads into his 10th decade.

Having first played the sport as a teenager in Heywood, he picked it up again at the age of 70 after moving to Holcombe Brook.

“We lived on Longsight Road near the old tennis club and I saw them playing so I thought I’d have a go again,” he told Bury Times.

“I’ve always liked tennis. It’s good exercise and you meet people, it’s social. You’re always striving to be a bit better, but I’m afraid you get a bit worse.”

Schofield had relocated to Spain, where he lived on a yacht, following the death of his first wife but meeting his second wife Elizabeth prompted the move back to Bury.

He is the oldest member of the veterans’ group, who play on Monday and Thursday mornings all year round, but there are several octogenarians, including 86-year-old Jane Bisson and Tony Wild, aged 83, who still plays competitively for Holcombe Brook.

Schofield, who also keeps fit and active through fishing and playing bowls at Nuttall Park, in Ramsbottom, admits tennis is a more difficult physical challenge than it was, but he is keen to keep going.

He has seen the veterans’ section grow in numbers since the tennis club relocated from Longsight Road to its current site on Hazel Hall Lane in 2015.

“It’s good fun and it’s a nice group here,” he said. “When we moved down from the other place I only knew four or five people that played with us in our age group but now there’s about 20 of us. We’ve got some good players.

“It’s very important to me, and the club is very important for the area. It seems to be very busy now and it’s quite a success.”

Chair Steve Denner added: “At Holcombe Brook we’re proud to offer tennis for all ages. We’re delighted to help Derek celebrate his special birthday and we hope to see him on the courts for years to come.”