EAST Lancashire has one of the worst records for TV licence dodgers in the country according to official statistics.

A league of shame published by the TV Licensing authority has seen Blackburn and the surrounding area shooting up the table in the last six months.

More than 2,150 living in the Blackburn post code area were caught watching television without a licence over the last six months.

The increase in the numbers caught means the area has gone from 29th in the table to 18th. Many of the places in the top 20 are large cities like London, Manchester and Birmingham.

The authority have warned that anyone caught using a television without a current licence faces an appearance in court and a fine and there are plans in the pipeline to flood Blackburn and surrounding towns with detector vans.

Simon Ablitt, the TV Licensing Director of Field said: "TV licence sales are increasing so it is not the number of evaders which is rising but the number of people being caught out.

"This means that our detection equipment is proving more effective in catching TV licence evaders."

Mr Ablitt added: "The net is clearly closing in, and we are disappointed that evaders are foolish enough to risk a hefty fine.

" We will be stepping up our visiting activity and hope that people get the message that it is increasingly difficult to avoid getting caught."

Blackburn has been chosen as a particular target by teams of detectors in a bid to improve the area's poor record.

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