A Crawley resident who claimed to use their television as a clothes horse has been named among the top ten excuses for not paying the TV licence.

TV Licensing has issued a list of the top ten excuses given to their inspectors by residents around the country this year for failing to pay the £145.50 a year charge.

One resident in Crawley told officers: “I don't use my TV to watch TV programmes. I use it to hang my clothes so they dry.”

Also among the worst excuses given by licence fee avoiders, a Manchester resident said: “My mum died. She had a payment card. I’m going to a clairvoyant to ask her where she put her card.”

A Northern Irish resident from Carrickfergus told inspectors: “My son lost his tooth and the next day we found the TV under the stairs. We thought it was a present from the Tooth Fairy so didn't need a TV Licence.”

Failure to pay for TV licence can result in a fine of up to £1,000.

For more information visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk.