As the tennis heats up at Wimbledon we go back into our archives to trace the link between the world-famous tournament and Barnsley.

Many readers will know about the link between the town and the prestigious tournament, held every July.

The balls for the tournament were made by a dedicated staff at a factory on Doncaster Road for years.

As of 1996, the order for the tournament was 34,000. But there was another special request – make them brighter for the players, officials, spectators and TV audience alike.

And they pulled it off.

Slazenger’s international tennis ball manager Terry Moore said: “They have been tried in Australia where it was found that they contrasted better with the court surface, making line calls easier.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Brighter balls score a hit with players.

Tennis ball maker Slazenger has served up a bright idea which will improve the top tennis tournament, Wimbledon.

Workers at the company’s Doncaster Road factory have been working flat out to produce 34,000 of the new, brighter balls - designed to be easier for the players, spectators and TV cameras to follow.

They have already been given them thumbs up by players who say they look bigger and are easier to see.

“They have been tried in Australia where it was found that they contrasted better with the court surface, making line calls easier,” said Slazenger’s international tennis ball manager, Terry Moore.