THE first steps have been taken to solving the poor TV reception that has plagued Thanet.

MPs are being asked to support a call for better coverage for the isle, where some 7,000 homes suffer a bad television signal on the four main terrestrial channels and most do not receive Five at all.

Viewers have resorted to spending hundreds of pounds on cable and satellite packages so they can watch their favourite shows.

South Thanet MP Laura Sandys is bringing a Ten Minute Rule Bill before Parliament.

In it she will insist that TV licence fee payers should receive a better service for their money.

She said: "We have for too long suffered from bad to non-existent TV coverage in parts of Thanet and it is essential that before the digital switchover this is improved.

"People pay their licence fee and for that they expect to get a service."

Mrs Sandys has already met with industry regulator Ofcom and the BBC and hopes to improve signals before the isle's digital switchover in 2012.

Hope for a better service – see page 3