PEOPLE watching TV without a licence in Evesham had better watch out as a new generation of detector vans takes to the streets.

The new vans take advantage of the latest technology and are capable of going under cover to look like any other white van.

Last year in Evesham alone TV Licensing caught more than 200 evaders - and with the help of the new vans the authority hopes to catch even more.

Mark Whitehouse, spokesman for the TV Licensing authority said: "These new vans really are a case of 'now you see it, now you don't'. By having the option of being able to remove the TV Licensing logo, licence evaders won't know we're in the area unless we want them to.

"Fifty years ago you could spot the TV detector vans coming a mile off as the aerial on top was as wide as the van. This is the first time we have used covert vans and they will be only one part of our activities to target licence evaders."

The new vans are equipped with secret technology able to pinpoint exactly which room a TV is in from more than 60 yards away. Mr Whitehouse said: "The technology is so secret that even the engineers working on different detection systems worked in isolation - not even they know how the other detection methods work."

For the first time the detector vans will use GPS satellite technology to track down targeted addresses. This will enable TV Licensing to target individual homes using information from its database of 28 million addresses.

TV detector vans help TV Licensing catch around 1,200 evaders every day. Anyone caught without a licence risks a trip to court and a fine of up to £1,000.

For further information about the many ways to buy a licence or the concessions available call 0870 241 5590.