Club owner set to defy ban

A Shropshire nightclub owner has been banned from playing music at his venue until his licence has been brought up to date, the High Court in London has ruled.

Mr Justice Kitchin yesterday banned Kerry Wycherley, proprietor of the Buttermarket in Shrewsbury, from playing music at the venue after hearing he had been caught playing songs there without a licence.

Mr Wycherley said it was a misunderstanding and would be resolved on Monday.

He had sent a cheque to Phonographic Performance Ltd to pay them but it had not been delivered because of the postal strike.

The Howard Street club was open as normal last night and Mr Wycherley vowed it would also be open as normal tonight despite the ban, adding that he had only found out about the action from the Press.

"We've agreed to pay them and they should have had the money as we've sent them a cheque but it hasn't got there because of the postal strike," he said.

"Until I'm told by the authority we will carry on."

Failure by Mr Wycherley to obey the order would be regarded as contempt of court, the penalties for which can be fines of up to £10,000 and up to two years in prison.