A GOLBORNE tennis coach is annoyed one of his star junior players has missed out on a sports scholarship -- because her parents live over the border.

Andy Brown, a coach at Golborne Lawn Tennis Club, is fuming because eight-year-old Catherine Hughes will not be able to take up a 12-month scholarship at the exclusive David Lloyd Centre, in Warrington.

Catherine, of Derby Road, Golborne, lives within the Warrington post code area, but her parents pay their council tax to Wigan Metro.

Because they live within the Wigan boundary, and are not Warrington tax payers, Catherine will not be able to have the scholarship.

Andy took some of his young tennis players to trails at the David Lloyd Centre -- which has top sporting facilities -- and says he was told by a centre representative Catherine was one of the best, if not the best, of her age group, and if her parents were Warrington tax payers, she would have had a scholarship.

Andy said: "The reason for the scholarship is to give children whose parents cannot afford that sort of money a chance.

"People ask why there are no world-class players coming through the ranks. The reason is because there are not the opportunities. People who are of middle or lower class do not get chances. You've got to have money to get anywhere.

"This just shows why Britain are not producing players like other countries. We do out best at Golborne LTC, but you feel like banging your head against the wall."

The scholarship would have meant Catherine, a pupil at All Saints RC Primary School, in Golborne, could have had two hours of a week of coaching for a year at the centre, which has a range of different tennis courts.

Catherine's mum, Susan, said: "Tennis scholarships should not depend on where players live. It's wrong to penalise a child just because her parents pay rates to Wigan."

Susan added that the talented youngster has taken the disappointment in her stride.

Susan said: "It's hard to explain to an eight year old that she can't have a scholarship because her mum and dad pay rates to Wigan."

Mike Hiner, rackets manager at the David Lloyd Centre, said Catherine was a "good little player" and would definitely have had a scholarship had she been eligible for the scheme.

He explained the scholarship was funded by Warrington District Council. Warrington Council had set the boundaries and had stipulated only children whose parents paid council tax to it could participate.