SEVENTY-EIGHT TV licence dodgers were caught red handed in Swindon during March nearly twice as many as this time last year.

These figures follow a recruitment drive at the end of last year, in which TV Licensing more than doubled the number of inquiry officers on the streets.

Michelle Hughes, TV Licensing spokeswoman in Wales and the South West, said: "The number of evaders caught in March demonstrates the success of our visiting strategy, resulting in more knocks on unlicensed doors than ever before.

"We are increasingly successful at catching evaders and this is a warning to anyone who thinks they can get away with it.

"Our inquiry officers work at all hours, especially during peak viewing times and the weekends, when people tend to watch the most TV.

"In fact, more and more of our officers are now working 5pm to 9pm, not 9am to 5pm."

The TV Licensing database of more than 28m addresses is one of the largest in the UK and shows which properties across the country are licensed or unlicensed.

Inquiry officers have access to this on a daily basis and target unlicensed properties.

Michelle Hughes said: "With a possible trip to court and a fine of up to £1,000, we always prefer people to buy a licence rather than be prosecuted and we are urging local evaders to buy a licence before they get caught.

"We also understand that there are some people who genuinely struggle to pay for the licence in one lump sum.

"For these people we have cash schemes which allow those on income related state benefit to pay in weekly or fortnightly cash instalments."

TV Licensing has also launched an online facility allowing people to buy their TV licence, which costs £121 a year, through direct debit online. Anyone who wishes to set up direct debit can log onto www.tvlicensing.co.uk/dd.

Anyone who installs or uses television equipment to receive or record television programme services must be properly licensed by law.

For more information on TV Licensing, including concessions and ways to pay, call 0870 241 5590 or visit the website at www.tvlicensing.co.uk