SIX places in Basingstoke are still watching TV in black and white, according to TV Licensing.

After over 50 years of colour transmissions, six black and white TV Licences are still in force in Basingstoke, with 109 still in force across Hampshire as a whole.

Among counties in the South East of England Hampshire had the third highest number of black and white viewers after Essex (140) and Kent (133), followed by Sussex (107) and Bedfordshire (84).

Despite an increase in the use of smart televisions, as well as tablets and smart-phones to access TV content, a number of UK households are spurning 21st Century technology in favour of nostalgic monochrome TV sets.

The number of black and white licences issued each year has, however, steadily been declining. In 2000 there were 212,000 black and white TV Licences in force, but by 2003 that number had shrunk to 93,000. By 2015, the number had dipped below 10,000.

Cody Want, spokesperson for TV Licensing London and South East, said: “Over half of the UK’s TVs now connect to the internet, so it’s pretty interesting that more than 7,000 households still choose to watch their favourite shows on a black and white telly.”

“Whether you watch EastEnders, Strictly or Question Time in black and white on a 50-year-old TV set or in colour on a tablet, you need to be covered by a TV Licence to watch or record programmes as they are broadcast. You also need to be covered by a TV Licence to download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer, on any device.”

Jeffrey Borinsky, a London-based television and radio technology historian, added: “There are hundreds of collectors like myself who have many black and white TVs. Who wants all this new-fangled 4K Ultra HD, satellite dishes or a screen

that's bigger than your room when you can have glorious black and white TV.

“30 years ago you could still buy black and white TVs, mainly small portables, for as little as £50 and it’s interesting to know that some of people still have them.”

A licence is needed to watch or record live TV, on any device including a laptop, tablet or mobile phone. You need to be covered by a TV Licence to watch or record live TV programmes on any channel or device, and to download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer. Find when one is needed at tvlicensing.co.uk/info