Furious tennis fans have accused Eastbourne chiefs of cashing in on their most loyal customers.

They protested yesterday about a change in ticket policy.

Placards were held aloft demanding "top seeds on centre court" and "loyalty before profit" and fellow spectators were urged to sign a petition.

Fans with a week-long ticket for a centre court seat are having to pay extra this year for access to court one.

Their anger at the price hike was fuelled on Wednesday when top seed Jelena Dokic's match on court one clashed with 11-time champion Martina Navratilova on centre court.

Protest leader Jeanette Murphy, from Cheshire, has been coming to Eastbourne for 18 years.

She said: "Anybody that has paid a season ticket, which is about £96, has then got to pay an extra £12 or £13 for number one court.

"Prior to the tournament starting we renew our tickets in good faith that we will see the top seeds on centre court, not to stump up every time we want to see a top seed on court one.

"People are completely incensed by the way they have been treated.

"The weekly centre court season ticket holders are the lifeblood of this tournament.

"They renew in advance, so the tournament has our money in the bank and now it seems they can do what they want with us. We don't believe it's fair."

Ron Cussons, director of tourism for Eastbourne Council and a member of the tournament management committee, said: "The change is in line with the majority of events on the world circuit.

"You go to very few places now where number one court is not charged for. It was all on the literature when the tickets were sent out.

"It's a traditional event here and they have got set in their ways.

"They don't really want change, but we want world tennis on this site for many years to come and we have to move with the times and the world circuit. We can't stay as we are otherwise we won't survive."