The first Sunday in June is being celebrated by croquet players as National Croquet Day.

Sidmouth Croquet Club will be opening it’s lawns to the public between 11am and 6pm on that day.

Croquet can be played and enjoyed by all ages and relies on skill and tactics rather than physical strength, so men and women play on equal terms and an effective handicap system allows beginners to compete competitively with experienced players.

Croquet has been played at Sidmouth for over 100 years and there are now over 200 clubs nationally and more than 30 in the south west alone.

Club members will be on hand all day to show visitors how to play both the traditional association game and the shorter ‘golf’ format.

Sidmouth Croquet Club chairman Peter Nelson says: “Everyone who attends can be assured of a warm welcome.”

He added: “All that is required is a pair of flat shoes and a sense of fun!”