A STOCKTON Heath nightclub was banned from playing music after being caught playing Mark Morrison hit Return of the Mack without a licence.

Aries Night Club’s owners Mytoncorp Ltd were handed the ban by one of the country’s top judges at London’s High Court.

Mr Justice Henderson imposed the ban after hearing music was played there when the proprietors did not hold a current licence from music royalties collectors Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL).

And in addition to the ban he also ordered the company, which was not represented in court, to pay £1,790 in legal costs.

A PPL inspector visited the premises, on Grappenhall Road, and heard music including Fine China by Chris Brown and Good Feeling by Flo Rida on November 22 last year.

PPL wrote to the venue to tell them it was infringing copyright and invited them to purchase a licence.

But the management had not gone on to buy the licence.

PPL spokesman Nazneen Nawaz said: "Public Performance licences are issued by PPL to hundreds of thousands of businesses and organisations from all sectors across the UK who play recorded music to their staff or customers and who therefore require a licence by law.”