THE Queen of Hearts would be delighted at Suffolk's new state-of-the-art commitment to her favourite sport.

Bury St Edmunds masqueraded as Wonderland yesterday as England's first artificial croquet lawn was opened in the town.

With the Queen of Hearts unavailable, councillor Ray Nowak stepped in to officially launch the new facility at the Victory Ground.

Mr Nowak, chairman of St Edmundsbury Borough Council's leisure services committee, said the idea for a croquet lawn came from the public.

"A leisure plan consultation showed an amazing number of people asking for such a -facility," Mr Nowak said.

"This led to discussions with the National Croquet Association who have assisted with the development of this excellent new lawn. It will give everyone the opportunity to try what is an increasingly popular sport."

The artificial lawn is made of plastic grass mounted on a flexible base and was installed at a cost of £50,000.

As the first of its kind in England, the new lawn will host national and regional matches.

"This facility will endorse St Edmundsbury's reputation for offering some of the best and most diverse sporting opportunities;' said Mr Nowak.

Not only is this good in terms of health and fun, but it has a serious impact on the economic development of the area."

Croquet, immortalised in Lewis Carroll's madcap novel Alice in Wonderland, was played by pupils from South Lee School at yesterday's launch.

Mallets, hoops and balls replaced the flamingos, playing card soldiers and curled up hedgehogs used in Alice as youngsters tried their hand.

*Don Gaunt, 40th ranked player in the world and deputy chairman of the Croquet Association, gave a demonstration before Bury St Edmunds club members christened their new facility.

The sport is described as a cross between golf and bowls, with the mental strategy of chess. "We hope it will prove a popular sport for all;' said Mr Nowak.