Over 3,000 island pensioners could face an additional household bill as the BBC confirms plans to scrap free TV licences for over-75s.

Isles MP Angus MacNeil has slammed the Tories for breaking another election promise and placing an added financial burden on pensioners.

Mr MacNeil said: “There are around 3,000 island residents who are over the age of 75 – just over 10 per cent of our islands population.

“They should continue to be exempt from paying for a TV licence and any effort to remove that and impose an additional household bill on older people is shameful.

“For many people TV is just welcome entertainment, but for others it is day to day company which helps combat loneliness and isolation.

“Together with my SNP colleagues at Westminster, I will raise this issue in the House of Commons at the earliest opportunity.”

The BBC plans to scrap blanket free licences for over-75s, only households with one person who receives pension credit will still be eligible.