MORE than 130 people in Spalding have been caught watching television without a licence in the past six months.
They are among more than 204,000 people caught across the UK during the first half of this year.
The average evasion rate remains at a low of just over five per cent, meaning that almost 95 per cent of properties are correctly licensed.
Mark Whitehouse, TV Licensing spokesman for East Anglia, said: “These 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 television without being properly licensed, they risk prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.”
A colour television licence currently costs £145.50 and is required by anyone watching or recording television programmes as they are shown on television, whether they are using a television set, computer, or any other equipment.
Anyone watching television illegally risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.
l Further information on how and where to pay the licence fee can be found on the TV Licensing website.