Players at St Albans' only padel courts will have to bring their own rackets and balls if they wish to play, starting next month.

PadelStars at Batchwood Sports Centre will no longer be providing complimentary equipment from Friday, November 1.

There are two padel courts at Batchwood Sports Centre.There are two padel courts at Batchwood Sports Centre. (Image: Pearce Bates) A statement on PadelStars website read: "We recommend that all players bring along equipment and if you love our PadelStars rackets as much as we do, we do sell these at £50.

"If you’d be keen to purchase, please do drop us an email at stalbans@padelstars.co.uk

"We are currently working on a solution which will enable you to hire equipment, although this will take some time to facilitate, so please do bear with us!".

Read More:

A padel court at one of the company's sister locations.A padel court at one of the company's sister locations. (Image: Everyone Active) The result of a partnership between Everyone Active and PadelStars in May saw the first and only outdoor Padel courts open in the city.

The sport, which is a hybrid of tennis and squash, is played on an enclosed court slightly less than a third of the size of a tennis court. It is traditionally played as doubles.

While Padel follows the same basic rules and scoring as tennis, players serve underarm and the ball can be bounced off the walls.

Currently, the Batchwood courts are available to hire for up to £8 per person between 8am to 7pm on weekdays, and 8am to 6pm on Weekends.