BOLTON businesses are facing a crackdown if they do not have licences for their television sets.

TV Licensing, the body which enforces payment, has identified sectors where it believes some firms could be evading the £112 a year colour fee.

They are: Banking and finance, bars and clubs, beauty salons (including hairdressers), catering (including restaurants, cafes and take-aways), manufacturing, motor garages, recreation, culture and sports (including gambling), retailers and travel (including travel agencies and taxi operators).

Research shows that one in five small businesses using television equipment to receive programmes at work either think they do not need a licence or are unaware of the regulations.

They can be fined up to £1,000.

Mr Phil Reed, spokesman for TV Licensing in the North, said: "The business sector research is part of a move towards more tightly focused targeting of companies which may not be complying with their legal obligations.

"There are an increasing number of televisions in use at businesses and it is important that companies buy a licence if they need one."

He said recent activity in the hotel sector had revealed that around 60 per cent needed to update their licences.

Mr Reed went on: "We have been working behind the scenes with trade associations to let businesses know when they need to be licensed and, from this week onwards, we will be mailing businesses in the blacklist sectors.

"We recently launched a new TV Licensing Task Force of Enquiry Officers and, following these warnings, we will be using our UK-wide database to pinpoint businesses from any sector who fail to buy the appropriate licence."

Business owners not sure if they are properly licensed can call TV Licensing on 0870 241 5590 or visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk for more information.