Priory beat off stiff competition from Central High, Darras Hall, Ovingham and Sele first schools.

They scooped the prestigious award due to the number of teachers who are Key Stage 1 and 2 tennis trained, the number of after school tennis clubs, good links with the local tennis club (Collingwood) and the number of school teams competing in and winning the North Tyneside schools competitions.

At the awards ceremony, which were presented by former Wimbledon doubles champion Peter Macnamara, Beverley Park U16 boys' team and ladies' second team, as well as Cullercoats national junior club league team, were all nominated in the Team of the Year category but lost to a well deserved Church High.

Dominic Widdas and the Beverley Park boys' U16 team were nominated for the Performance of the Year but lost out to National U16 number one Alex Walker.

In the Most Improved Female junior category, local players Lucy Cartner and Emily Rutherford were nominated but the award went to Emma Wilson, of Cramlington.

The Most Improved Boys section saw Jacob Docx, Jordan Simpson, James Parkin (all Cullercoats) and Sean Millington (Beverley Park) lose out to Ben Lott.

The News Guardian came second in the best media coverage category whilst local coaches Phil Barron, Stuart Cass, Adham Harker and Steve Milne were all nominated for Coach of the Year.

North Tyneside Council was runner-up in the Best Council Tennis Provider category to Castle Morpeth Borough Council.

Michael Widdas and Andrew Mackey, of Beverley Park, picked up the Junior Volunteer of the Year.

The prestigious Gordon Brewis Service to Tennis Award went to a well deserved David Bottrill, president of Cullercoats Tennis Club, for his never ending commitment to both the club and county association over 20 years.