More than 100 BBC presenters are facing tax bills that could run into hundreds of thousands of pounds after a former star lost her case against HMRC.

Christa Ackroyd earned more than the Prime Minister as co-host of the regional Look North programme on BBC One.

She was paid as a freelancer through a personal services company at the BBC's request, but HMRC ruled that she should have paid the same level of tax as a BBC employee. Ms Ackroyd must now pay back £419,151.

In its ruling, the tax tribunal in Leeds said that, while this was not a test case, "we understand that the present appeal is one of a number of other appeals involving television presenters and personal service companies."

At least 100 past and present BBC presenters are under investigation for alleged tax avoidance by using personal service companies to register as self-employed thereby minimising tax bills. The case could also have ramifications in other industries.

A HMRC source said: "This is an important marker for employees who were using personal service companies as a device to pay much lower tax. The game is up."

Ms Ackroyd was poached from ITV in 2001 and presented Look North until 2013, when her contract was terminated. The tribunal heard that the BBC advised her to be paid via a personal service company.