A LANDLORD has been hit with a £350 fine and £150 costs for using a TV without a licence.

Alan Herbert was caught without a licence at his pub the Britannia Inn in Nuttall Street, Accrington.

He was also ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge by Blackburn magistrates on Monday.

TV Licensing spokesman Jon Shaw said: “We appreciate these are tough times for businesses, but to be fair to the majority who do pay the licence fee, we have to take action against those who watch TV illegally.

“As our survey shows, those businesses who do try to get away with it might find the price of being caught to be higher than just a fine.

“We’d rather businesses think ahead and check if they need a licence than risk being prosecuted.

"A licence costs £145.50 and can be bought in minutes online at www.tvlicensing.co.uk/business.”