Black and white TV licences have dropped to just 10 in Ely, figures released this week revealed.

Across the UK, the number of families watching on black and white TVs has dropped a further 12 per cent in the past year, with fewer than 12,000 sets now in use nation-wide.

According to this year’s figures, Norwich and Cambridge lead the way in black and white sets across East Anglia – with 36 licences - followed closely by Peterborough and Lincoln, with 29 and 29 respectively.

With advances in technology, the demand for black and white licences has been in steady decline for years.

At the turn of the millennium there were 212,000 black and white licences issued, but by 2003 that number had shrunk to 93,000. Just three years later, in 2006, the number was less than 50,000 and today just 11,550 black and white licences remain in force across the UK.

Despite it being nearly 48 years since colour transmissions began, digital switchover and the recent Christmas seasonal surge of television, laptop, tablet and smartphone sales, it seems there are still some nostalgic UK homes firmly attached to their trusty black and white TV sets.

Mark Whitehouse, spokesperson for TV Licensing in East Anglia, said: “Today’s figures show, even in the digital age, more than 11,000 homes still watch their favourite programmes on black and white televisions.

“We may be on the brink of losing black and white sets to the history books, but older technology will always be replaced by exciting new ways of watching live. It’s important that no matter how you watch live TV, whether on a black and white set, or online, you’re correctly licensed to do so.”

Mr Whitehouse added: “Although 11,550 black and white TV licences may appear to be a large figure, it’s now only a tiny proportion of the 25 million TV licences in force across the UK. Despite over 25 million people opting for a colour TV Licence in the UK, it may be some time before the black and white television disappears completely from our living rooms.”

Top 10 black and white towns in the East

1.= Norwich 36

1.= Cambridge 36

3. Peterborough 29

4. Lincoln 20

5.= King’s Lynn 14

5.= Spalding 14

7.= Grimsby 13

7.= Wisbech 13

9. Scunthorpe 12

10. Great Yarmouth 11