Six new outdoor table tennis tables have been set up across Fenland – and the sport seems to be catching on fast.

The Manor Centre in Whittlesey, West End Park in March and Wisbech Park each now have two tables in place. Bats and balls can be borrowed free from the local leisure centres.

All six tables are being well used. In the month since they were set up, the Manor Centre has loaned out about 80 sets and the George Campbell Centre more than 60. Other players have been bringing their own equipment.

Outdoor table tennis is one of the sports being encouraged by Active Fenland, a three-year project being funded by a £250,000 grant awarded to Fenland District Council by Sport England’s Community Sport Activation Fund earlier this year.

To help encourage people to pick up a bat and have a go, 10 table tennis players have become Activators and have received some training on basic fun games and activities to engage large groups.

The next step has been to start up some play-on opportunities so two new sessions have started, one at the West Anglia College Wisbech Campus and the other at Tydd St Giles village hall.