HEAVEN help us, here comes the annual tennis fest that is Wimbledon.

The time of year when the 80 per cent of UK sporting fans, especially those without Sky, are subjected to blanket coverage of a sport in which we have no interest whatsoever.

As a nation we’re dreadful at it. We don’t have a suitable climate and indoor facilities are few and usually too expensive for the average player.

Furthermore, tennis clubs, being run by committees, are festooned with notices and rules and more concerned with who they can exclude rather than admit.

As if this is not enough, when it rains there is the awful possibility of being serenaded by Sir Cliff Richards.

VJ Connor, Bishop Auckland.