MORE than three million people over 75 will no longer get their TV licence for free from next year.

From June 2020, around 3.7 million households which previously received a free licence will have to pay £154.50 a year.

All over-75s currently do not pay for the TV licence, but from next year only those households with a member who receives pension credit will get it for free.

The Government currently funds the free TV licence, but the scheme will end in 2020.

The Government decided that it is the BBC's responsibility to decide on any future scheme, and pay for it.

The BBC said if it had to fund licences for all over-75s, it would have meant unprecedented closures, including the end of BBC Two, BBC Four, the BBC News Channel, the BBC Scotland channel, Radio 5 Live, and a number of local radio stations, as well as other cuts and reductions.

The BBC Board said it was the "fairest option to help the poorest pensioners."