Each day of Wimbledon, thousands of hopefuls join the famous queue in the hope of receiving a ticket to the grounds.

But Simon Wright of the Save Wimbledon Park group claimed that its existence defeats the purpose of a conservation area for bats.

“The queue could be on their own land," he said, as part of protests against Wimbledon's proposed expansion.

“Every year, we lose more of the park to the queue, and every year, they start building it earlier.

“There has not been a consideration of the impact of their plans on wildlife all the way through, so I’m not particularly surprised that they’re doing this.

“I’m a big fan of the bats of Wimbledon Park because it’s a lovely thing to do to go and sit by the lake at dusk and watch the bats feeding on the insects as they fly around.

“It’s completely ridiculous to have a bat protection zone and then put a load of people through it.

“Just walking through will still disturb the bats’ natural environment, and they’re very sensitive creatures.”