More than 5,000 people across Sussex were caught watching TV without a licence in 2006, new figures have revealed.

Brighton topped the TV Licensing league of shame in Sussex after 1,173 licence evaders were caught.

Anyone caught faces a fine of up to £1,000.

It was the second year running that Brighton had topped the table.

Worthing came second after 707 people were caught without a licence.

The town leapt up the chart after finishing in fifth place the year before.

Meanwhile Crawley was third with 558 people being caught with Eastbourne in fourth and St Leonards finished fifth.

TV Licensing, which has a national database of more than 28 million addresses, is now reminding anyone still without a licence to act quick.

Leander Clarke, spokeswoman for TV Licensing South East, said: "The number of evaders caught in Brighton remained high in 2006 - but still being in this losers' league is certainly nothing to be proud of.

"Time is running out for evaders. With a UK estimated evasion rate of around five per cent, we are clearly making it harder for people to avoid paying for their TV licence and we are committed to ensure that no one is watching television illegally and that everyone is aware of the consequences of not being properly licensed.

"We continue to catch, on average, around 1,000 TV licence fee evaders a day, but we would much rather people pay for their licence than risk prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

"We appreciate that there are some people who genuinely struggle to pay the licence fee and that's why we offer so many flexible payment options, including paying over-the-counter at any of the more than 16,000 PayPoint outlets across the UK, so there really is no excuse for breaking the law."

A colour TV licence currently costs £135.50 and a black and white TV licence currently costs £45.50.

You can pay over the counter at the Post Office, by credit or debit card by calling 0870 241 5590, by direct debit, a TV Licensing savings card or by post.

For more information on the concessions available and ways to pay, call 0870 241 5590 or visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk/info