More than 130 under-25s living Suffolk towns such as Ipswich, Stowmarket, Bury St Edmunds and Felixstowe have been caughty watching TV without a licence.

And because a high number of under-25s across the country are in higher education TV Licensing are issuing a warning to any students thinking of flouting the law – get a licence or face a fine of £1,000.

Students across the county and beyond, whether in shared accommodation or halls, have to be covered by a current TV Licence if they’re watching live television.

As 99 per cent of students own a device capable of streaming live TV research was conducted by Harris Interactive among 220 students spread across universities in the UK in May 2013.

Martin Dyan, TV Licensing spokesperson for London and the South East said: “With nearly all students owning at least one device capable of showing live TV - such as a laptop, smartphone or tablet computer - they should know the law around being correctly licensed. If you’re watching live TV on any device, including mobiles and tablets, you need a TV Licence.

“Students and young adults need to be aware of their legal responsibilities. Anyone caught watching TV without a TV Licence can face prosecution and a fine of up to a £1,000.

“If students are worried about paying for a TV Licence, they should get in touch. We know some people struggle to pay, and there are many payment options available, from paying in one go to spreading the cost over the year.”

If students live in halls of residence and watch live TV in their room, they will need their own TV Licence. Students in shared houses will also need their own licence if they use a TV in their room, and have a separate tenancy agreement. Shared houses with joint tenancy agreements require only a single licence for the home.

Any student who is in any doubt about whether or not they need a licence can visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk/studentinfo or call 0300 790 6090.