A COMPANY director has threatened to close a pub in Bury after it was hit with a fine from TV licence officials.

Colin Yates, who runs CY Inns Ltd which operates the Fairfield Inn, in Rochdale Old Road, said he will shut the pub after magistrates fined the firm £500 for using a television without a licence on business premises.

But Mr Yates claims the pub does not use televisions and that he was not informed of the hearing held at Wigan Magistrates Court last week.

Mr Yates, who has been ordered to pay a total of £970 including court costs, launched a scathing attack on the TV Licensing Authority.

Speaking to the Bury Times from Benidorm, he said: “This is draconian action. It is the second time they have taken me to court and I just can’t understand it. There is no television in the pub.

“I’m a businessman trying to make a living. I cut corners where I have to, but I would never cut corners when it comes to paying bills.

“If they have taken me to court without my knowledge, then they have gone behind my back. I have not been given the chance to defend myself.”

Mr Yates added: “All I’m trying to do is provide employment for local people and to provide somewhere for the community to drink.

“I will refuse to pay this fine.

“I have 22 pubs in my company and none of them has a television. They are all good pubs.

“I feel like I’m being singled out. When I get back from Spain, I will close down the pub and put local people out of work and this is all down to the TV Licensing Authority.

“I really like this pub because I have run it myself in the past and know the people who drink there, so it’s a shame I’ve been forced to do this.”

Matt Thompson, TV Licensing spokesman for the North West, said: “We appreciate these are tough times for businesses, but to be fair to the majority who do pay the licence fee, we have to take action against those who watch TV illegally.”