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Wimbledon bosses are grooming a successor for SW19 favourite Rufus the hawk to protect Centre Court from meddlesome pigeons.

For 17 years the revered bird of prey has watched the skies at the Championships and there were fears he could go the way of line judges and be replaced by AI.

But chief executive Sally Bolton this morning put paid to the rumours and confirmed that Rufus' own fledgling will take up the mantle at the world's most historic tennis tournament.

Asked if Rufus would be replaced by digital anti-pigeon tech, Ms Bolton said: 'I don't know that this is correct, but I think we are now already working with the son or daughter of Rufus.

'It’s a family business.I think we have a succession plan for Rufus.'

An insider confirmed that Rufus' own eyas was already in training 'alongside' him in preparation.

But the father, dubbed 'The Real Hawk-Eye', is still running the skies as his 18th tournament kicks off today.

Rufus was famously stolen from his owner's car in 2012 prompting a hunt across South West London before being found safe and well four days later.

Born in captivity in Northamptonshire, he starts every day at 6am to prepare to protect Centre Court and Court Number One.

A picture of Rufus' instagram showed him sat on the umpire's chair on Centre Court this morning with the caption: 'Hawk Eye, reporting for duty.'

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