TV licence cheats could soon be tracked down when enquiry officers check up at addresses in Winsford and Middlewich. Teams of officers will be taking to the streets within the next couple of weeks to clamp down on dodgers in both towns.

They will be using updated detection equipment and one of Europe's largest databases of 26 million addresses to check licence details in just three seconds.

New, lighter, handheld scanners which can detect a television at the touch of a button are enabling enquiry officers to increase their success in tracking down evaders in high rise buildings, flats and bedsits.

The detector vans can tell where the TV is in the room and even trace which programme is being watched, whether analogue, digital, satellite or cable.

"Television licence evasion is against the law and with our new equipment, the question for cheats is not if you will be caught but when you will be caught," said north west regional manager, Doug Mullin.

"The possibility of a court appearance and a fine of up to £1,000 is not worth the risk. I would remind dodgers, we may well be knocking on their door next. I would caution unlicensed viewers against the false economy of thinking they can get away with it."

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