New fourth generation mobile services may cause interference with TV signals, South Hams residents are being warned.

The new mobile internet services, known as 4G, have been switched on in Ivybridge. 4G gives people faster access to the internet on smartphones and tablets.

However, there is a small chance that some 4G mobile signals transmitted at 800 MHz will cause interference to Freeview, which is TV received via an aerial.

Because 4G signals at 800 Mhz ’sit next to’ the frequencies used by Freeview, they can overload the receivers in TVs and set-top boxes causing interference. Signs of interference are loss of sound, pictures going ’blocky’, freezing or the TV screen going blank or showing a ‘No Signal’ message.

Because of this, free help is being made available to residents in the town. Set up under government direction an organisation called at800 offers free support to households relying on Freeview for their TV. at800 also offers extra support for the elderly and those that receive disability premiums.

Chief executive Ben Roome said: “We want to ensure people know it’s our role to fix Freeview interference caused by 4G at 800 MHz, and that there’s no charge for our service.

“If you rely on Freeview for TV, we can arrange for one of our accredited engineers to visit homes to fix Freeview interference caused by 4G signals, free of charge. If you use Freeview alongside other TV services, we can send free filters which block mobile signals that are easy to fit to the aerial lead connecting to TVs and set-top boxes.”

Cable and satellite TV, like Sky or Virgin, won’t be affected. If viewers have cable and satellite TV and also watch Freeview, at800 can provide free filters and advice, but not in-home engineer support.

People who live in communal properties should contact at800 and also advise their landlords. at800 can provide free filters to landlords but property managers are responsible for the cost of fitting these.

at800 also offers extra support for people who are 75 years of age or older, are registered blind or partially sighted, or receive any of the following benefits: personal independence payments; attendance allowance; constant attendance allowance or War Pensioner’s Mobility Support.

To contact at800 call 0808 13 13 800 free from landlines and mobiles, or see: www.at800.tv/contact-us .