Two Derbyshire tennis players are among the first in the country to earn a national coaching award.
Simon Thornewill and Tom Rushby have been working for a year to achieve their level-four Senior Performance Coaching qualification.
The award, organised by the Lawn Tennis Association, requires coaches to complete seven modules, including an on-court assessment.
Thornewill, head coach at Woodlands Tennis Club, in Allestree, and Rushby, now academy coach for Midlands Tennis in Loughborough started the award prior to last year's AEGON Summer County Cup, in July, and finished it in time for County Week earlier this month.
Thornewill said: "It's an intensive course but they get in the best tutors and I think both Tom and I learnt a lot.
"Being among the first to get the award will mean people may come to us first and it should open up a lot of opportunities.
"Both of us are also relieved we didn't have to miss County Week to do it, because that is an incredibly important tournament and we did very well by get promoted this year."