Fans face Queen's ticket warning

Tennis fans buying Stella Artois championship centre court tickets on auction sites have been warned they will be barred from this year's tournament at Queen's Club.

The problem of black market tickets has escalated for this year's event following confirmation that John McEnroe and Boris Becker will meet for the first time on grass after the final on 12 June.

With three weeks to go before the tournament starts, a pair of centre court tickets for the final with a face value of £124 are on offer on a website for nearly £400. A pair of ground tickets, normal price £24, are available for £205 and a seat in the East Stand on the Wednesday of the championship, which start on 6 June, is going for £165.

A tournament spokesman said: "It is a condition of the tickets for the Stella Artois that a purchaser cannot re-sell them. If they do, then that ticket becomes void and anyone purchasing the ticket faces the prospect of being turned away."

The championship will feature 18-year-old French sensation Richard Gasquet, defending champion Andy Roddick, three-times winner Lleyton Hewitt and home favourites Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski.