SWINDON has been named and shamed in a list of television licence fee evaders.

For the second time this year, figures show that the town is in the top 10 of the south's worst offenders.

In total 1,448 people were caught using TV without a licence over the last 12 months, putting the town in third place.

Of the other contenders for this unwanted accolade, where inquiry officers caught 1,427 evaders, Oxford is the closest.

Hot on its heels is Luton with 1,373 evaders caught.

But residents can breathe a sigh of relief that they don't live in East London which tops the league for the whole of England and where a staggering 14,265 people were found using TVs unlawfully.

Jane Lodge, regional communications manager, said: "Evaders of Swindon should hang their heads in shame at these latest figures.

"It is unfair that the honest majority of people in Swindon who use TV and have a licence should suffer the knowledge that some of their fellow citizens have brought the name of the area into disrepute."

Last month, TV Licensing announced a record 23m licences in force and with evasion down to five per cent nationwide, there has never been a worse time to risk avoiding the licence fee.

TV Licensing operates a database of UK addresses, which can pinpoint in seconds whether or not a premises has a TV licence.

Officers also have access to detector vans, and hand-held detection equipment for traditionally hard to reach blocks of flats.