MORE than 600 people have been caught watching TV in Colchester without a licence in the first six months of the year.

Fresh figures released today show 609 people were caught in the town by inspectors between January and June.

It means Colchester, ranked 60th in the UK, has the most evaders in north Essex.
In Clacton, 400 people were found out, with 100 in Harwich.

TV Licensing inspectors also caught 293 people in Chelmsford, 150 in Braintree and 50 in Maldon.

They are among more than 204,000 people caught across the UK during the first half of this year.

Victoria Sykes, TV Licensing spokesperson, said the figures show only a minority of people do not pay their licence fee.

Anyone who does not pay a TV licence risks being prosecuted and having to pay a fine of up to £1,000.

A colour TV licence costs £145.50 and is required for anyone watching or recording TV programmes, whether they are using a TV set or a computer.

To buy a licence, go to tvlicensing.co.uk or call 0300 790 6112.