HUNDREDS of Hampshire people have been left staring at blank screens after the digital revolution wiped out their television reception.

Viewers have flooded the Digital UK helpline with complaints over lost channels and problem digital boxes.

Many have contacted TV repair firms but been told they may have a week’s wait as the companies struggle to cope with the demand.

Daily Echo: Click below to see a video of today's headlines in sixty seconds

The television misery comes after Digital UK carried out a “reorganisation of the airwaves” ahead of the big switchover in 2012.

TV fans slammed the company for creating the mayhem and offering no solution.

Ian Richardson, 66, of Chandler’s Ford, said the only BBC programme he could get was the parliament channel. After repeated attempts to retune his Freeview box he called the company and was told there were technical glitches.

He phoned back later and says he was told he must have a fault with his aerial.

He said: “You expect a few teething problems but you don’t expect all this trouble.

“I think we have been done a disservice.”

Daily Echo: How to retuning a digital box

A Digital UK spokesman admitted there had been technical problems and that the company had been inundated with calls.

He said: “There have been a lot of calls from people who are having problems.

“In some cases people have lost all the BBC channels while others have lost ITV and Channel Four as well.

“There are many reasons this could have happened, they may need an aerial adjustment or their TV maybe storing their missing channels elsewhere.

“Calls are still coming in at a steady rate and it has been a busy and stressful time.”

Television repair companies across the county have experienced a huge surge in business with hundreds calling up with inquiries.

Mark Bailey, Southampton Electronics Services manager, said he had fielded more than 100 calls, mostly from elderly people confused by the new technology.

He said problems would last until the end of next week when repairmen would have had a chance to visit everyone.

He said: “This has created a lot of confusion and some people have inadvertently changed the settings on the television as they have been trying to retune it and ended up in a worse situation than they started in. Confusion has been the main problem.”