IT WAS game, set and snap when a sporty Hampshire father and daughter splashed out £60 on new squash racquets.

Tom Jones and 16-year-old daughter Hayley's fun came to an end when the strings on both their racquets became loose after just a handful of games.

Mr Jones, 45, went back to JJB Sports in West Quay Retail Park, where he bought the racquets. Staff there sent the equipment back to manufacturers Wilson.

But Mr Jones, who has played the sport for more than 20 years, was shocked to discover that as soon as he handed over the cash the strings were not under guarantee.

Mr Jones, of Langdown Road, Hythe, a regular squash player at Jubilee Hall in Fawley, said: "We had only played about four of five games and the strings went loose on both of the racquets.

"I used my last racquet for about a year and the strings were fine. The racquet I bought for my daughter was her first squash racquet so it wasn't as if she was being a demon hitter with it.

"I was absolutely gobsmacked when I found out there was no guarantee. If the strings went on the first day you bought it then it wouldn't be under guarantee."

A spokesman for the Southampton store said: "Wherever we can we always try to swop something if there is a problem because we want customers to be happy. If there's doubt then we would send it back to the manufacturers for their opinion."

A spokesman for Wilson said they would pay for the racquet to be restrung at the store as a goodwill gesture.

She added: "The company policy is that we don't guarantee the strings on a racquet because of the nature of the game.

"For some people they can last for six months and for others they can last just a couple of games but, as a goodwill gesture, we can get these restrung."

Watchdog is a weekly feature dealing with consumer issues. If you have a story to tell, ring the newsdesk at the Daily Echo on 023 8042 4522 or e-mail using the link above.