A NORTH-East town has been named as one of the worst areas for TV licence evasion.
Almost 2,500 people have been caught using a TV without a licence in Middlesbrough during the past nine months.
The town has come ninth in the North's Licensing League of Shame, compiled by TV licensing.
Sunderland came 15th in the league, with 1,500 evaders caught.
Manchester topped the table for the region, with 9,472 people using TVs unlawfully.
Mark Auslebrook, regional manager of TV Licensing, said: "It is unfair that the honest majority of people in Middlesbrough who use TV and have a licence should suffer the knowledge that some of their fellow citizens have brought the name of Middlesbrough into disrepute.
"Fee dodgers face a trip to court, a fine of up to £1,000 - and they still have to buy a licence."
Last month, TV Licensing announced a record 23 million licences were in force, with evasion down to five per cent nationwide.
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