A Southend club owner today said he was amazed by a High Court writ banning him from playing music until his licence was brought up to date.

A spokesman for Kevin Chinnery, owner of Chinnery's and Mr D's on Marine Parade, claimed he had no knowledge the PPL (Phonographic Performance Ltd) licence - which permits him to play music - had been unpaid.

At a High Court hearing held in his absence, Mr Chinnery was told to "pay up or shut up" by Mr Justice Lindsay.

But today a spokesman for Mr D's said he would be foolish to try to skip payment of the licence, and insisted he had no knowledge it was outstanding.

He said: "This licence is impossible to avoid, and an essential part of running a nightclub business.

"The PPL goes out on direct debit, and prior to the announcement of a refurbishment to the premises there was obviously going to be a change to the PPL.

"But we have had no contact from PPL whatsoever - we are only a phone call or a letter away and I have got nothing from them.

"This has taken us completely by surprise."

The spokesman added he was not even aware a hearing had gone ahead in the High Court, and claimed he would pay the licence immediately.

The High Court heard that a PPL inspector attended Mr D's on July 31 and heard music playing although there was no record of a licence being paid.

The judge ruled that until he brings his licence up to date any premises he runs must be turned into a music-free zone.

If he disobeys such an order he could face a fine of £10,000 and up to two years in prison.

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