Wimbledon hires more than a thousand security guards and even removes jigsaws from its shop in a bid to crack down on Just Stop Oil and pro-Palestinian protesters

Wimbledon is braced for a series of protests, with eco-zealots and pro-Palestinian activists set to target the tennis championships.

In the biggest operation ever to be mounted at SW19, more than 1,000 security guards aided by specialist police spotters in the crowd will seek to nip any trouble in the bud.

Hundreds of radicals from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign plan to disrupt the tournament, which starts tomorrow.

Just Stop Oil has said it is planning on targeting the tournament, after stopping play in two matches last year.

Britain's No 1 Katie Boulter was left shocked when her match was paused while security removed a protester.

A protestor scatters jigsaw puzzle pieces during Wimbledon in 2023

A security guard chases the protestor who caused a Wimbledon match to be paused

The protestor wears a white Just Stop Oil t-shirt as he is dragged away by security

He had scattered thousands of pieces of jigsaw puzzles and orange-coloured confetti on court.

Now visitors are no longer able to buy jigsaw puzzles of Centre Court and the score board after they were withdrawn from sale from the All-England Club's shops.

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A spokesman for the Met warned protesters to expect a rapid response if they tried to cause a commotion.

Boulter, 27, is worried about another issue this year – if the England football team progress today against Slovakia in the Euros, she fears she might lose sleep, saying: 'I think we are going to hear a lot of cheering in the pubs.'

Emma Raducanu said she enjoys the fun of the football, but she is less happy about her own chances against Russian opponent Ekaterina Alexandrova, who is seeded 22.

Raducanu, 21, said: 'I'm expecting a difficult match.

'I think it's a match where I am actually the underdog because she is a lot older, a lot more experienced, and ranked a lot higher.'

Meanwhile, Andy Murray, 37, was all smiles as he practised just one week after surgery on his back.

The two-time champion at SW19 hopes to be fit for what is likely to be his farewell at Wimbledon before he retires.

Katie Boulter (pictured) during practice prior to this year's Wimbledon. This year she is worried that England will lose to Slovakia at the Euros

Emma Radacanu (pictured) laughs as she practices ahead of the match against opponent Ekaterina Alexandrova, who is seeded 22

Andy Murray (pictured) leaves a court at Wimbledon just one week after back surgery

He is scheduled to play world No 38 Tomas Machac in the first round on Tuesday, and is also aiming to play in the doubles with his brother Jamie.

But Murray sounded a downbeat note: 'I need to be able to move properly, which I can't yet, so let's see in 48 hours or so. I don't know.

'Tough to know how it's going to progress, really.'