IN THIS modern age of technology you can view 3D television in your own home, or use voice commands to change the channel.

This prime era of TV viewing offers you the chance to enjoy 4K Ultra HD on your own sofa, giving you cinematic-like pictures all day, every day.

In spite of all of these high-tech innovations, 109 Hampshire households still choose to purchase black and white TV licenses.

After more than 50 years of colour broadcasting, 37 Southampton homes don't own a colour TV.

Cody Want, spokesperson for TV Licensing London and South East, said: “Over half of the UK’s TVs now connect to the internet, so it’s pretty interesting that more than 7,000 households still choose to watch their favourite shows on a black and white telly.”

“Whether you watch EastEnders, Strictly or Question Time in black and white on a 50-year-old TV set or in colour on a tablet, you need to be covered by a TV Licence to watch or record programmes as they are broadcast. You also need to be covered by a TV Licence to download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer, on any device.”

Jeffrey Borinsky, a London-based television and radio technology historian, added: “There are hundreds of collectors like myself who have many black and white TVs. Who wants all this new-fangled 4K Ultra HD, satellite dishes or a screen

that's bigger than your room when you can have glorious black and white TV!”

“30 years ago you could still buy black and white TVs, mainly small portables, for as little as £50 and it’s interesting to know that some of people still have them.”

Nationally, 7,161 households are still choosing for their viewing to be via black and white TV sets, with London housing 1,768 of these. Outside of London the West Midlands came out on top.

Hampshire placed outside the top 10 counties, as did Southampton for cities.

The amount of nostalgic monochrome sets has been steadily declining in recent years, but the figures are still higher than many expect.

In 2000 there were 212,000 in action, which dropped to 93,000 in three years, and dipped below the 10,000 mark in 2015.