Strawberries go up but that won't worry Wimbledon's top seeds

Tennis fans already struggling with the credit crunch will be hit by price rises at Wimbledon when the tournament starts next week.

A portion of 10 strawberries with cream has leapt by 25p to £2.25 this year after not changing for five years - a 12.5 per cent rise.

Ticket prices have also gone up, with a seat on Centre Court on the final Sunday costing £91 - £4 more.

A seat for No 1 Court on the first Saturday has risen from £50 to £53, while general admission tickets for the lesser courts bought on the doors have also risen, with tickets in the first week now £2 more at £20.

But for the players there are above-inflation rises in prizes. The money for the winner of the men's and ladies' singles titles has increased by seven per cent from £700,000 to £750,000.

Women stars were at a party last night at Kensington Roof Gardens. One player wanting to get her hands on the cash is world number one Serbian Ana Ivanovic, 20, who said: "It's my dream to win. All the players feel and talk about Wimbledon differently."

A spokesman for the All England Club insisted that Wimbledon still provided "great value". He added: "The ticket prices reflect inflation and also the market place.

"This is the first time the price of strawberries has gone up since 2003. It is down to the costs associated with producing them."

A "dispersal zone" including Wimbledon town centre is being set up around the All England Club which will give police powers to order touts to leave the area or be arrested if they are caught again.

At last year's men's final up to 2,000 fans were turned away in a crackdown on black market tickets.

Tickets for this year's men's final are already being advertised for £1,966 online.