Bradford firms thinking of allowing workers to watch this year's Wimbledon tennis tournament from today have been warned to ensure their TV licence is up to date.

A team of inquiry officers will be working in the area throughout the tournament, which runs until July 8, to ensure businesses are not breaking the law.

Anyone found evading could risk a trip to court and a fine of up to £1,000.

Last year during the World Cup, more than 400 people in businesses and homes across the Bradford area were caught watching TV without a valid licence.

TV Licensing is reminding these businesses in particular not to incur a double fault by getting caught again this year. Anyone at work using a TV or PC to watch television programmes as they are being broadcast in the UK must be correctly licensed.

Charlotte Hancock, TV Licensing North spokesman, said: "We know a lot of online viewing is done in the office, allowing people to do their job while keeping up with the very latest action from Wimbledon.

"However our inquiry officers will be out in force throughout the tournament to ensure that businesses are correctly licensed to receive television broadcasts, regardless of whether you are watching on your PC or on the television. Even bosses at the Wimbledon ground will require a licence to broadcast the BBC footage from Henman Hill', so if you're hoping for Henman, do check your licensing status - the ball is in your court."

Stephen Alambritis, of the Federation of Small Businesses, speaking before Andy Murray pulled out of the tournament, said: "Andy Murray's chances may be in doubt for this year's tournament, but there should be no doubt over the TV Licensing legal requirements - if you plan to show the tennis at work, or if your staff can access the streamed Wimbledon coverage via their PCs, then you must have a licence. We would advise those businesses concerned about the legal requirements to contact TV Licensing to find out more, rather than risk a fine."