A PENSIONER who criticised the TV Licensing Authority for wasting time and money trying to give him a free licence ten years too early has received a response to his complaint.

Vic Mitchell, from Sarisbury Green, is 65, yet twice he was sent an offer for a free over-75s television licence.

He sent back the first licence application form, adding his 1935 birthday clearly marked to highlight the mistake, but within days received a second form. The mortgage broker, from Dene Court, was originally told the authority had problems processing his details and suspected there was an error.

Finally, it wrote to Mr Mitchell accepting his age and his ineligibility for a free licence.

The letter states: "Thank you for your application for an over-75 licence. I am writing to let you know that we have been unable to process your application, as it shows you are not yet old enough to register. You will, of course, be able to apply again when you are eligible. Simply wait for your first TV licence reminder letter after your 74th birthday.''

Mr Mitchell said: "Finally they seem to have go the message. I know it's a standard letter, but it looks like I've actually wrongly applied for a free licence, when I had to refuse one twice.

"There seems to be a lot of time and money wasted on bureaucracy and putting it right.''