Buckingham is the only squash club in the county to have achieved the coveted standard.

The charter is an equivalent award to Sport England's Club Mark, which is a nationally recognised 'kitemark' for quality.

By achieving both awards the club can demonstrate it is child friendly and accessible, with excellent facilities, and that it uses qualified and fully insured coaches.

Club chair Jill Reynolds said: "This is a fantastic turnaround for a club that was under threat of closure just a few months ago.

"As part of our campaign to save the club we promised local town councillors, Swan Pool swimming pool and Aylesbury Vale District Council that we would create and actively pursue a strategy to develop squash and racketball for our club. The charter is the backbone for our plans."

Fraser Liversage, area manager for England Squash, commented: "Now that the charter is in place I can include Buckingham in my plans for the county as a whole.

"I have already set up some regular coaching for students from Buckingham School and am currently in discussion with two other schools, which I hope will come on board in September. Furthermore my plans include delivering mini-squash to children in local primary schools."