A PUB landlord who illegally tuned in to Premiership football matches being beamed abroad has been fined.

Michael Waters, the landlord of the Black Horse pub on Higher Market Street, Kearsley, was ordered to pay a total of £1,400 in fines and court costs.

The FA Premier League decided to prosecute Waters after they learned he was showing games which could only be broadcast live abroad.

Under the terms of an agreement with satellite broadcasters BSkyB Saturday afternoon premiership games are not shown live in Britain, to encourage fans to watch matches live or support lower league teams and amateur matches.

But foreign broadcasters are allowed to show the games and equipment with encryption cards can be illegally obtained in Britain, allowing people to receive the programmes.

In August, 2003, investigators discovered a Manchester United versus Bolton Wanderers match, which was being officially broadcast to North Africa, being shown in Waters' pub.

The Premier League sent him warning letters but, on September 10, 120 drinkers at the pub were found to be watching a Manchester United versus Manchester City game.

Waters was not at Bolton Magistrates Court on Tuesday, but sent a letter saying: "I deeply regret my actions."

Magistrates fined him £750 and ordered him to pay £650 costs.

A spokesman for the Premier League said: "Hopefully this prosecution will act as a deterrent to other publicans who are tempted to purchase illegal equipment to show these games.

"We are out and about and stepping up the number of visits we make to pubs and clubs and we will prosecute where people are persistently breaking the law."