THE BBC has announced an increase in the TV license fee which will come into effect next month.

The announcement is the first increase for billpayers in seven years, with the last made on April 1, 2010.

The fee will rise to £147 from £145.50.

The Government is responsible for setting the level of the licence fee, and last year announced that it would rise in line with inflation for five years from Saturday, April 1.

Licence fee payers will receive a payment plan or a reminder reflecting the new amount when their licence is next due for renewal.

Those buying or renewing a licence after April 1 will pay the new fee.

Those already buying a licence on an instalment scheme which started before April 1 - such as monthly direct debit or weekly cash payments - will continue to make payments totalling £145.50 until their licence comes up for renewal.

The licence fee also applies to viewers watching or recording TV programmes as they are shown on TV, or watching or downloading BBC programmes on iPlayer.

This fee is applicable to all those using a TV set, computer, or any other equipment to access the BBC's range of TV and Radio programmes.

The increase has been calculated by Government using the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation, measured at 1 per cent in September 2016.

The cost of an annual black and white licence will also rise from £49 to £49.50.

The free concession for those aged over 75 remains, although as at present this is not issued automatically, and anyone entitled to the concession must apply for it.

Blind (severely sight impaired) viewers are entitled to a 50 per cent concession on the cost of a TV Licence.

From April, 1 2017, this amount will be £73.50. There is no change to the Accommodation for Residential Care concession, which is available to people living in certain types of residential care accommodation, which may include care homes or sheltered housing.

TV Licensing provides a range of ways to pay, including small weekly cash payments and annual Direct Debit.

Payers can view their details online at any time, and can choose to receive correspondence from TV Licensing by email, rather than by post.

For more information about when a licence is needed, visit tvlicensing.co.uk/info.