Judy Murray has issued a plea to create a "world class" centre to breed a new generation of Scots sports stars at the start of a public inquiry.

She said the proposals for a £70m tennis and golf academy at Park of Keir, Dunblane, submitted together with former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie would be a "bricks and mortar legacy" of sons Andy and Jamie's success.

The plans, which include a 150-room hotel with a gym and spa, a visitor centre, a Murray tennis museum and 19 luxury houses, were rejected by councillors in December last year.

Opponents argued Park of Keir was valuable green belt land between Dunblane and Bridge of Allan.

On Monday, Ms Murray appeared at the inquiry in Dunblane where she argued the facility would enable Scotland to "train a new coaching workforce" that sport needed.

She submitted to the inquiry that from being a minority sport, the profile of tennis had "gone through the roof" thanks to the success on the world stage by Scottish players like her sons, with Glasgow hosting seven out of the last ten home GB Davis Cup ties including two World Group semi-finals.

In a formal written statement, on which she will be questioned later, the former Scottish national tennis coach said: "There is a huge appetite from kids, teens and adults to try tennis and therefore an enormous opportunity to grow the game.

"Of course you need role models to create the excitement and the inspiration but any sport is only as good as its grass roots and our grass roots are very weak.

"History shows that it is not elite success that chiefly inspires young people into sport but having access to affordable, accessible facilities and engaging coaches at school and in their community."

Murray, 56, who grew up in Dunblane, said Park of Keir was the "perfect location" and within easy reach of 70% of Scotland's population.

She said: "The Park of Keir facility is a family focused, pay and play community sports hub aimed at increasing grass roots participation in tennis, golf and football by providing starter coaching and competitions in indoor and outdoor facilities that are local, affordable and accessible.

"It also has a wider goal of getting more families enjoying exercise together and in fresh air through its woodland walks, cycle paths and an adventure playground.

"We need many more public facilities with fun starter activities led by engaging and experienced coaching staff to create opportunities for people to get started."

Murray said that, despite having a US Open champion and an Australian Open champion from Scotland, the country has no outdoor hard courts for young players to train or compete on.

She said: "The hard courts that do exist in Scotland are tarmac and porous concrete but even these are few and far between.

"Most clubs in Scotland have artificial grass, which is not an internationally recognised surface and is the worst possible learning surface because of the variation in bounce and speed.

"If we have ambition to become a strong tennis nation we must invest not just in facilities but also in people."

She added: "Our facility will become a coach education centre and a base for developing a Scottish tennis workforce - coaches, trainers, competition organisers, team captains and coach educators - from entry level to world class, and has the backing of both Tennis Scotland and the LTA.

"Our current coaching workforce in Scotland is small in number and poor in quality. We will offer on the job training in all areas because we will run not just best practice coaching sessions but also competitions, conferences and workshops."

The inquiry, which is headed by a reporter from the Scottish Government's planning and environmental appeals division, is being held at the Westlands Hotel in Dunblane and could last two weeks.