The sport of handball has made a comeback in Ashford.

Medway Falcons - the only handball club in Kent - have added a new base at the Stour Centre.

Sessions are held every Tuesday (4-6pm), with the club welcoming anyone aged nine and over.

Handball used to exist in the town in the form of the Ashford Tanners but hasn’t been offered since the 2012 Olympics.

Medway Falcons were founded in 2017, initially to respond to a need for team competitions for girls and women but they also cater for boys and men and players with disabilities.

They hold sessions in the Medway Towns and now the Stour after funding was secured for handball goals.

The sport is popular in Europe and well established in major cities in the north of England - the governing body is based in Warrington - but there’s work to be done down south.

Sarah Chammartin, Medway’s development and funding officer, said: “We are the only handball club in the county.

“In France, where I am from, we have clubs everywhere.

“Ideally, we’d like to have more here but somehow it’s only us and it’s difficult because we can’t be everywhere.

“We have venues at Rochester Grammar School and The Howard School in Rainham and Medway Park in Gillingham, and the Stour Centre.

“We need to push the sport. I want to see sustainability, growth, and individual development.

“This is what we are trying to do with Medway Handball Club.

“It’s a small community, and we’re all volunteers, but we do what we can to push the sport and make sure people know about it.”

For more information about the club, email medwayfalcons@gmail.com