Doing away with the Wimbledon queue would destroy one of the great traditions of the championships, the chief executive has said.

Richard Lewis, head of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, said the system of queuing up on Wimbledon Park for hours or even overnight will not be changing anytime soon.

When asked if a technological solution could be brought in, he replied: "It's a great question because I walked round there yesterday and the atmosphere was amazing.

"People were really enjoying themselves. It's just one of the great traditions of the queue and you hear stories of people who, on Saturday night, didn't bother to go home and people seem to love it."

He continued: "It's an example where technology could change things if you wanted to but you'd think very carefully [before] you did away with it.

"It just seems to be so popular. Most people say it's a wonderful experience."

Mr Lewis said that as a 13-year-old he queued overnight on the pavement to bag himself a place at the final between Rod Laver and Tony Roche.

"There's a lot of people working here, myself included, who once queued up overnight. I wouldn't do away with it," he said.

The official Wimbledon Guide To Queueing says the queue is "as much a part of the Wimbledon experience as the tennis itself".

Waiting tennis fans are forbidden from playing loud music and the "excessive consumption" of alcohol, while barbecues, fires and smoking are all banned outright.

Queuers are allowed a "temporary absence" from their place in line to get food or go to the toilet, but these "should not exceed 30 minutes".

Travelling from Australia, John, Jack and Tom Handbury were one of many people to get to the park early on Monday morning.

"We got up at 3.30am and got here at about 4.30am," father John said.

"The line has been good, we’ve met some lovely people here around us."

Raghavendra Pai and his wife Gowri came all the way from India and said they wouldn't have it any other way

"Sunday evening was when we we started camping," he said.

"We did that last year as well. You come here, have a couple of beers and some sleep and you feel fine."