'It's astounding' - Black and white TV licences still in force

IT might be hard to believe but thousands of people across the country are still watching television in black and white - and 22 of them are in Rotherham.

Almost 50 years after former BBC Two controller David Attenborough first broadcast colour TV in the UK, there are still 22 licences in force in Rotherham.

Despite the switchover to digital TV and a rise in the use of HD TVs as well as tablets and smart-phones to access TV content, some UK households are shunning the attractions of the latest technology.

Matthew Thompson, spokesman for TV Licensing, said: "It’s astounding that more than 22 households in Rotherham still watch on a black and white telly, especially now that over half of homes access TV content over the internet, on smart TVs. Whether you have the latest 4K TV or a black and white set from the 1970s, you do need a TV licence."