Courts for one of the world's fastest growing sports have opened in Ipswich after a warehouse was converted into a dedicated arena.

Padel Ipswich has opened in White House Road after One Group Construction Ltd (OGC), who owns the company, decided to turn one of their warehouses into two courts.

Richard Neall, who owns OGC, wanted to set Padel Ipswich up after playing the sport for the first time last summer with his son Will and "instantly fell in love with it".

Inside the warehouseInside the warehouse (Image: Lucy Taylor) Will Neall outside the Padel Ipswich warehouseWill Neall outside the Padel Ipswich warehouse (Image: Lucy Taylor)

He said: "Padel is one of the fastest growing sports in the world.

"As there was previously only one outdoor court in Ipswich, we soon started to struggle to play as much as we wanted to.

"The court was either fully booked, or the weather was too 'English'.

Inside the new padel centreInside the new padel centre (Image: Lucy Taylor) People playing in the new centrePeople playing in the new centre (Image: Lucy Taylor)

"We also love what social sport can bring to people's lives in terms of structure, teamwork and just plain fun.

"We decided to build two courts of our own."

Mr Neall said it took them around four months to convert the space and thanks to OGC being in construction, they were able to get some very clever project managers and builders to fit it out.

Will Neall at the centreWill Neall at the centre (Image: Lucy Taylor) People playing Padel in the new centrePeople playing Padel in the new centre (Image: Lucy Taylor)

The space features two courts on either side of a centre walkway and watching area to the enclosed courts.

Mr Neall continued: "The reaction since opening has been staggering to be honest.

"We had a great turn out for our open day and the interest continues to rise day by day.

Will Neall of Padel IpswichWill Neall of Padel Ipswich (Image: Lucy Taylor) Padel Ipswich Padel Ipswich (Image: Lucy Taylor)

"We are seeing a combination of existing players coming from all over Suffolk to play indoors, and excitingly many beginners.

"The warehouse is available to our staff daily which is also proving very popular."

Padel Ipswich can take general bookings for the courts through the app MATCHi, and they have started coaching group sessions.

The courts are enclosed The courts are enclosed (Image: Lucy Taylor) Someone playing Padel at the new courtSomeone playing Padel at the new court (Image: Lucy Taylor)