A LANDLORD has vowed to challenge a High Court judgement made against him for not having permission to play music in his pub.

Chris Ball, from The Outback pub, in Bishop Auckland, says he is considering lodging an appeal against a ruling made on Wednesday at London's High Court.

At the court hearing, Lord Justice Pumfrey ruled that The Outback pub must remain a music-free zone until the Phonographic Performance Licence (PPL) is updated.

The licence grants copyright permission for music to be played in public.

The judge also ordered Mr Ball to pay court costs of £1,100.

Mr Ball says he was staggered to find that a judgement had been made against him in his absence, and that he knew nothing about the proceedings. He also maintains he has a music licence.

He said: "I approached the PPL about the licence when I first took over the pub. It has been a total mix up that has blown out of all proportion.

"If I was in court I could have explained I had a licence and argued my case. I've done everything I should have done from a licensing point of view."

Mr Ball said the music licences were now in order for his pub, which is part of the Bishop Auckland pub circuit and attracts large crowds at weekends.

A spokesman for Phonographic Performance Ltd, in London, said: "If premises aren't licensed we will endeavour to get them licensed and if that doesn't happen we go to the High Court to issue a writ.

"The judge will then grant an injunction if he sees the writ has been properly served. We have to follow the correct steps to satisfy the judge before he will issue the injunction."