People in Swindon have been targeted in a TV licensing clamp-down.

Anybody watching television without a licence is being urged to pay the £116 licence fee and avoid a possible £1,000 fine.

With a database of more than 28 million addresses and state-of-the-art detection equipment, TV Licensing is warning fee evaders that it is only a matter of time before they are caught.

Sara Powell, TV Licensing spokeswoman, said: "The ideal time for our enquiry officers to visit unlicensed addresses is during peak viewing times when we know people will be watching television, for example, during popular soaps or major sporting events."

More than 1,000 evaders were caught last year in Swindon. TV Licensing's message is clear: "Evaders know who they are and so do we. We are serious about stopping evasion and will do so."

For information on how to pay your licence fee call 0870 241 5590 or visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk