HUNDREDS of people in the area have been caught watching TV without a licence since the start of the year.

TV Licensing has revealed more than 250 people in Stevenage, 90 in Hitchin and 80 in Letchworth GC have not paid the licence fee between January and June.

Across the UK more than 204,000 people were caught in the same period with an average evasion rate of just over five per cent, meaning almost 95 per cent of properties are correctly licensed.

Victoria Sykes from TV Licensing said: “The figures paint a very positive picture as the vast majority of people in the UK continue to pay their licence fee.

“Unfortunately, a minority of people do not pay for their licence, which is unfair to the law-abiding majority who do pay.

“If people decide to watch TV without being properly licensed, they risk prosecution and a fine of up to �1,000.”