THE fast-growing Olympic sport of table tennis is now proving popular in Irvine after a new club was set up.

Irvine Table Tennis Club was recently established following set-up advice from North Ayrshire Table Tennis Club (NATTC), with longtime player Ian MacPherson appointed as chairman.

The Irvine group secured three-year funding for the project from Sportscotland and they have a part-time development officer in Chris Main, who is also involved with NATTC.

Billy Main, North Ayrshire Table Tennis Club chairman said: "When I started North Ayrshire Table Tennis Club I said the eventual aim was to have the sport running across the community and we soon will have.

"The Irvine club are running an older adults club, another one for children and adults, both in the Portal, and classes are also being organised in Fullarton Community Hub and Fullarton Connexions. The club have been into the Care Home across from the hub as well. Visits are also being organised to local schools to introduce children into the sport, as we want 5to get the message across.

"Table tennis is a great sport to be involved in and is becoming more and more popular.

The all-ages club meet in the Portal on Tuesdays, from 6pm-8pm and the Older Adults Table Tennis Club runs from 10am-noon on Thursdays, at the same venue.

Classes run at the Fullarton Community Hub on Monday mornings and the Fullarton Connexions classes will soon be running on a Friday night.

Anyone who would like to find out more should head along to the groups.