DIGITAL UK has apologised to television viewers in Ilfracombe who are now picking up programmes from Wales.

Several hundred households have been getting programmes from the country after they re-tuned their televisions in September — they were instructed to do this for an "improved service" but now many have ended up receiving Welsh versions of national TV channels.

Bill Taylor, a regional manager for Digital UK, said: "We are sorry to the people of Ilfracombe because we understand it must be deeply frustrating.

"There are a series of possible solutions and if people contact our helpline our staff will run through all the potential steps they can take."

Residents are advised to contact the main helpline of Digital UK on 08456 50 50 50 or visit www.digitaluk.co.uk.

They currently receive a signal from a relay station linked to the main transmitter in North Devon at Huntshaw Cross, Torrington.

There was understood to be few problems after the digital switchover in the summer.

But Mr Taylor said: "Carmel, our main transmitter in South Wales, started up in between the switchover and the re-tuning, with a highly powered signal and when people re-tuned their equipment it gravitated towards this signal rather than the relay station."

David Pateman, an Ilfracombe resident, said:

"The more powerful Welsh transmitter is on a similar frequency more or less, and the signal travels better over water than it does over land. Where's the forward planning?

"We did have a perfectly good analogue signal and now it is just a mess."

Mr Taylor said: "Historically people in this area of North Devon have sometimes got a picture from Wales, it is one of the realities of the broadcasting landscape."

The apology from Digital UK comes a week after it emerged that around 50% of homes in North Devon lost both Channel Four and ITV after the re-tuning exercise, an exercise which was carried out so new Higher Definition channels and a stronger Channel Five signal could be introduced.