SOUTHEND Lawn Tennis Club has been put up for sale, sparking fears about its future among members.

The club, in Broadclyst Gardens, Thorpe Bay, has a long-term lease with owner Raymond Dickens, who won a bidding war with Southend property developer Regis to buy the site in 2005.

He bought the 1.4-acre club site for £187,500 at auction and said at the time he wanted to preserve the club for his grandchildren and other youngsters in the future.

But two years later it has been put up for auction with Savills and is offered at an auction guide price of between £250,000 and £275,000.

The move has renewed speculation the site could be developed for housing in years to come. Club secretary Dave Lincoln admitted members were worried about its future.

He said: "The committee is concerned about what's happening. We've called an extraordinary committee meeting for Sunday to discuss where we are and what will happen in the future.

"We are obviously concerned over the sale of the site because we have a lease with the owners.

"At the moment we are waiting to hear what's going on and will know more after the meeting on Sunday."

The popular tennis club has about 100 members and offers coaching at weekends for youngsters.

The freehold property for sale includes a clubhouse/ bar, five all-weather tennis courts with floodlights, a lawn and parking facilities, and is included in the catalogue for Savills' final auction of the year.

It is currently let to the club on a lease expiring in November 2022, at a rent of £3,500 per year.

The catalogue states the property may be suitable for development in the long term.

James Cannon, head of commercial auctions at Savills, said: "There are some great opportunities within the catalogue and we are looking forward to rounding off this year with another busy auction."

The sale will take place in The Ballroom, Claridge's Hotel, Brook Street, London, on Monday, December 10, at 2.30pm.