Campaigners said the BBC has stepped up its action against the 260,000 refuseniks after demanding the ￡159 annual fee from the over-75s. A “threatening” letter has been sent warning recipients their licence has been “cancelled” and it is against the law for them to watch live TV.

       The letter said advisers will call on homes to “explain all the options available to you and help you get correctly licensed again”.

       BBC bosses axed the free TV licence last summer, charging the over-75s for the first time in 20 years. Last month, BBC director-general Tim Davie got a 16.6 percent pay hike taking his salary to ￡525,000.

       Silver Voices director Dennis Reed said pensioners were revolted by Mr Davie’s ￡75,000 rise.

       He said: “It is urgent that the new Culture Secretary intervenes to prevent thousands of senior citizens, many in their 80s and 90s, being criminalised.”