A fake email is telling residents they need to pay to renew their TV licence due to 'problems with their bank'.

Police said a resident in Sherborne received the scam email telling them their TV licence couldn't be automatically renewed as their bank declined their last direct debit payment.

It then urged the reader to click on a link to update their licence, taking them to a site which looks like the genuine TV licensing website. Police said it is actually a bogus website which will ask for a "great deal" of personal information, including the victim's banking details.

A spokesman for Sherborne police said: "In an attempt to panic the recipient into acting, the scam email also states: 'Please take care of this straight away or we may be forced to cancel your licence or pass your details to a debt collection agency.’"

"Fortunately the recipient of this bogus email was a member of their local neighbourhood watch scheme and immediately forwarded the email to police so that other residents may be vigilant."