ILKLEY Lawn Tennis Club are to stage the biggest tournament in their history this summer.

The club, which was formed in 1880, are hosting a major pre-Wimbledon tournament on their grass courts.

The AEGON Ilkley Trophy, which will feature both a $50,000 ATP Men's Challenger tournament and a $50,000 Women's ITF Pro Circuit tournament, will be held on Monday, June 15 to Sunday, June 21.

The prize-money is almost seven times as much as for the ITF Men's Futures tournaments that have been held at the club in recent years, and being part of the official build-up to Wimbledon is a massive coup for the Wharfedale club.

There is stiff competition for a slot like this in the calendar, and Ilkley, helped by the backing of Welcome to Yorkshire, looks set to a regular fixture at a time when the British public show maximum interest in the sport.

The fields for both tournaments are certain to feature many players who will grace the lawns of the All England Club later in the month, and Lawn Tennis Association chief executive Michael Downey said: "We are delighted that Ilkley Lawn Tennis Club is hosting one of the AEGON Challenger tournaments this summer.

"There are great facilities there and it is such a unique setting. Ilkley is a club with ambition and a passionate staff. They will pull out all the stops to make this event a success.

"I'm sure the proud people of Yorkshire will get behind the event and will come along and show support."

Ilkley LTC chairman Richard Bourdon added: "This is fantastic news, not only for our club but for the whole area.

"It will be a big challenge for Ilkley Tennis Club, but to see world-ranked players playing in Yorkshire as part of the run up to Wimbledon will be inspirational for players of all levels."

The tournament is being officially supported by Welcome to Yorkshire as part of their backing for major sporting events in the county, following the huge success of the Grand Départ of the Tour de France.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: "This is another feather in Yorkshire's sporting cap and shows the ambition of our county's sporting organisations.

"This is a major step forward for tennis and sport for our county and we look forward to seeing the event grow year-on-year."