A former Assembly Member from Usk has turned tennis coach to get children playing the sport.

Laura Jones is helping to run Teddy Tennis Wales in the town, a programme which uses music, pictures and teddy bear stories to teach youngsters aged two to six the basics of the game.

"I used to be the shadow minister for sport and was always pushing to improve things at grassroots level, so you could say I am practising what I preach," said Laura.

"I came along with my son Henry and thought it was really good so decided to get involved.

"Unlike most sporting activies for this age group there is a structure to it, and the use of music and teddies in things like the Amanda Panda back-hander and the Danny Bear swing is really clever."

The Usk group has been running for the past six months as a pilot scheme, but its success is such that similar groups are being planned for Raglan, Abergavenny and Cardiff.

And from September, Saturday sessions will be added to the Wednesday and Friday afternoon groups.

Nigel Webb, a director of Tennis Wales and former Newport rugby player, brought Teddy Tennis to Usk after spotting a gap in the market.

"Tennis is a very technical game and it is good to start as young as possible," he said.

"Two to five-years-old is ideal – they are like little sponges at that age – and acts as a feeder to the LTA programme and individual clubs."

Laura said the scheme was about more than just tennis.

"It is lots of fun but also teaches the children life skills including hand-to-eye co-ordination, listening skills and how to work as a team," she said.

Pictured are Nigel Webb and coaches Hazel Cave and Laura Jones with Teddy Tennis players, and head coach Rhys Jones, who visited Wimbledon with mascot Johnny Bear and managed to grab a picture with new champion Andy Murray.