Four Hertfordshire residents have been prosecuted this year for not having a TV licence as the fee is set to rise next week.

Court records have revealed four people have paid out a total of £688 since the start of the year over the offence.

It comes as the licence fee will rise by 6.7 per cent on Monday, April 1, bringing the annual cost to £169.50 up from £159.

The government said the rise was "in line with inflation", although some people are eligible for discounts, including those who are blind, those living in certain types of residential care and for over 75s receiving Pension Credit.

The list of people sentenced is:

Jay Murphy, 37, of High Street, Stanstead Abbotts, admitted watching TV without the licence when he appeared at Stevenage Magistrates' Court on January 26.

He received a conditional discharge for 12 months with no fine, but was ordered to pay £120 in court costs and a £26 victim surcharge.

Andrew Nutzlader, 54, of Cedar Close, Borehamwood, was ordered to pay a total of £176 after he pleaded guilty at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on January 31.

The court handed down a £40 fine, £120 costs and £16 surcharge.

At Stevenage Magistrates' Court on February 1, Monika Matejko, 40, of Blindmans Lane, Cheshunt, was handed a £50 fine, £20 surcharge and £120 court costs after she admitted watching terrestrial TV without a licence.

Kelly Perkins, 42, of Allerton Close, Borehamwood, also had to pay £176 at St Albans Magistrates’ on March 13, of which £120 were court costs, a £40 fine, costs and £16 surcharge.