304 families still watching black and white televisions

To most they have been consigned to history, a dusty relic of the 1960s.

But figures released today reveal hundreds of people in the West Midlands still enjoy watching their TV in front of a black and white set.

While most are now forced to pay out £145.50 for a colour licence, a determined minority clinging on to their black and white TV pay just £49.

There are 134 black and white licences in Sandwell, 91 in Wolverhampton, 46 in Walsall and 33 in Dudley, TV Licensing said today.

Across the country 28,500 people are still using black and white sets.

Those who own just a black and white set aren't even able to buy their licence online, instead being told they have to phone as a "special case".

One of those is Black Country welder Ian Kennedy, who still owns a number of black and white sets, and restores them as a hobby. He said the vintage sets were still popular with the older generation as they grew up with them and they were also cheaper to run than colour TVs.

"It's a hobby of mine to restore black and white TVs," the 45-year-old said. "Vintage sets just look better. I think people still have their black and white sets for cost reasons with the recession. It's so difficult to make ends meet.

"Maybe some older people who grew up with black and white TVs still keep them and watch them now."

Mr Kennedy, who now lives in Telford, got rid of his colour TV three years ago. He said modern, flat screen TVs lacked character and look "ridiculous" on the wall. He added: "I think flat screen TVs are just glorified mobile phones and look ridiculous stuck up on the wall. I don't think the sound on modern TVs is as good as a vintage set either."

Historian Professor Carl Chinn, who is 55, said his generation grew up watching everything on TV in black and white.

"My generation see our childhood in black and white," he said. "I watched England win the 1966 World Cup in black and white.

"I remember a few years later it was shown in the cinema in colour. Everyone packed in to see something in colour for the first time. I think there is a different atmosphere watching something in black and white."

A total of 6.8 million people watched Wimbledon matches live on the internet in 2010. This year, for the first time, sports fans will be able to watch the men and women's Wimbledon finals in 3D.