PARROTS, alien abductions and the King of Scotland all feature in the list of implausible excuses given over the last year for not having a TV Licence.

All areas of the UK have demonstrated a creative approach to avoid paying the fee, including one Milford Haven resident who claimed: “My husband used to pay for the licence but he ran off with my mother. I didn’t know he stopped paying”.

Another dubious explanations for non-payment, which visiting officers and call centre staff have heard from Welsh residents this year, include a Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch resident who claimed: “I'm not paying because presenters cannot pronounce Welsh place names properly.”

Other colourful excuses from across the UK were: “I don’t have to pay as I’m the King of Scotland.”

“I steal my neighbour's signal - I'm pretty sure they have a TV Licence.”

“Yes, the TV is on but I don't watch it. It's only on for my parrot, Captain Jack Sparrow, who is learning the theme tune to Bargain Hunt.”

“I was abducted by aliens. As the government doesn’t believe me I'm refusing to pay my bills."

“I have a black and white licence. I only turn the colour on when my granddaughter comes and puts the music channels on, then I turn the colour off when she has gone.”

Catherine Griffith-Williams, TV Licensing spokesperson for Wales, said: “Even though we’re effective at catching evaders, we’d always prefer people pay than risk a maximum £1,000 fine. For those who may find it difficult to pay in one go, we offer a range of payment options to spread the cost, Sign up at www.tvlicensing.co.uk.”