Salon owners have hit out at authorities after being told they face fines of up to £1,000 if they don’t pay for their TV licenses.

This reaction comes as TV Licensing warned shop owners not to “cut corners” in their attempts to keep customers entertained.

Local hairdressers have warned that their TVs are purely used for background noise and that the extent of the fine is heavy-handed.

Malik Bada, owner of Malik’s Barbers on West Nile Street, said: “Fines like this will hit businesses like mine the hardest.

“The situation around here is not great at all for shop owners and thousands of pounds in fines will only make it worse.

“For me it is easier just to pay the TV license in the first place but I can see why some don’t - customers aren’t coming here to watch Jeremy Kyle, they just want their hair cut.”

But many businesses believe that giving people the chance to watch their favourite shows whilst they get a haircut could give their salon an edge.

Hilary Hall, CEO of the National Hairdressers’ Federation, said: “Reading a magazine in the chair is still very popular but some clients enjoy watching TV while they’re having their hair cut or styled.”

Salons need to pay their TV license fee if they have TVs or tablets for their customers to watch and authorities want to remind owners how easy it is to pay.

Fergus Reid, TV licensing spokesperson, said: “Cutting corners, rather than hair, could land the owner in court and facing a fine.

“A TV license is just a snip at £145.50 and there are many ways for businesses to pay.”

Despite that, the owner of Malik’s still thinks the fine are unfair.

Mr Bada added: “There are loads of shops in the city centre who are boarded up or closing and threats like this won’t help.”