More than 3,200 TV viewers in Newham watched their favourite shows without paying for a television licence last year.

The neighbouring borough of Tower Hamlets fared a little better, with just over 1,400 telly addicts dodging paying the licence fee in 2012, according to new figures.

The statistics were released by BBC contractor TV Licensing, which is responsible for collecting fees and tracking down fee dodgers.

TV Licensing spokeswoman Victoria Sykes said that only about five per cent of homes nationally don’t pay up.

“In order to be fair to the law-abiding majority who do pay for their licence, we’ll continue to pursue the small minority of people do not pay,” she added.

A colour TV Licence currently costs £145.50 and can be bought online at www.tvlicensing.co.uk.