Tennis fans camp for days in Wimbledon tickets queue

Hundreds of tennis fans have spent up to three nights under canvas to be the first to gain entry to the tournament today.

And before the gates opened, crowds were already queuing for tomorrow's tickets.

Fans put up tents in a makeshift camping ground in Wimbledon Park and as usual were given "queuing cards" to mark their position in the line.

Fiona Porter was at the front after pitching her tent on Friday evening.

The 34-year-old from Winchester said: "I got here at 8pm and had to stay overnight on my own. It was quite scary but it's all part of the fun. It's the third year I've done it and it's worth it to see Federer."

The nursery nurse was joined by her friend Helen Gorman, from Swindon, the next morning. The pair, who met on Roger Federer's official website, were the first ticket holders to enter the All England Club this morning.

Deborah De Brababter, 28, and her three friends travelled from Belgium. She said: "We have booked a hotel so we can have showers and hopefully we won't be too smelly. But it's part of the rules to sleep in your tent overnight."