A country club in Billericay is set to replace its tennis courts with "sought-after" padel ball courts.

Stock Brook Country Club has unveiled plans for eight padel courts, which will replace four existing tennis courts.

The proposal also includes a new weatherproof canopy to provide five fully sheltered padel courts at the club in Queens Park Avenue. The plans say the "increasingly popular" outdoor sport is wanted in the area.

According to the planning documents, the nearest padel courts to Billericay are at The Heron Country Club in Brentwood, six miles away. The only padel courts in the borough are at Club Kingswood, which is also about six miles away, according to the plans.

The plans state: "Stock Brook Manor has long been known for its innovation, striving to provide state-of-the-art contemporary facilities for their members. Padel tennis is becoming an increasingly popular outdoor sport in the UK; however, only a few appropriate facilities exist within Essex to serve the increasing demand.

"The current proposal would contribute eight padel tennis courts to the borough within Billericay itself, providing increased access to the sought-after facilities and minimising the need to travel for local users and existing members of the Stock Brook Country Club.

"Economically, the provision of eight new padel courts and an associated weatherproof canopy would enable the more efficient operation of the sporting facility and is likely to result in the employment of additional staff by way of padel tennis coaching, maintenance, and administrative levels.

"Socially, the proposal would offer the improvement of an existing recreational facility, which has a strong synergy between the different amenities, which are all available on one site."