TV tax-dodgers in Exmouth have been shown to have a sense of humour after one claimed a squirrel relived itself on their television set.

TV tax-dodgers in Exmouth have been shown to have a sense of humour after one claimed a squirrel relieved itself on their television set.

More than 100 people in Exmouth have been caught not paying their TV licence over the first ten months of 2010 – and this year and this year’s offerings are particularly inventive and particularly entertaining.

They include the usual attempts to blame relatives or animals and one householder told TV enforcers: “My house was invaded by a squirrel which weed on my TV, so now it doesn’t work properly” while another said: “I don’t watch the television; I just use it as a light in the dark.”

One dodger said: “Can you call back later? I want to finish watching the end of this TV programme,” while another said: “I’ve got no licence because when I called TV Licensing they refused to barter with me. Everything should be up for negotiation.”

Spokesperson Warren Carr, aid: “No matter how creative people get with their excuses, watching or recording live TV without a licence is against the law.

“In fairness to those who pay the fee, we will prosecute those who try to avoid it, including the likes of the gentleman who refused to buy a licence unless we bartered with him. He was found guilty and fined by unimpressed magistrates.”

“We’re effective at catching evaders, but we would always rather people pay than risk a fine of up to �1,000.”

Anyone in doubt about when a TV Licence is or isn’t needed can easily check by visiting www.tvlicensing.co.uk/info or by calling 0300 790 6112.