Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross has described the decision to refuse help to the district's most vulnerable residents with the change to digital television as 'sounding like a job's worth thing'.

The Digital Switchover Roadshow was scheduled to arrive in Dawlish yesterday as next month's switch-off of the analogue signal approaches.

Publicity material said those eligible for help, including the over-75s and people receiving disability allowance, were in safe hands. It said they would be 'provided with all the equipment that is needed to switch one of your TVs and that installation is taken care of for you'.

But this paper has learned that elderly and disabled people living in rented accommodation, including housing association properties, do not qualify for a new aerial even if their old one will not work under the new system. It means people on low and fixed incomes could either face the prospect of a blank screen or having to dig deep in their pockets.

The official body overseeing the change said the problem laid with gaining access.

A spokesman told this paper: 'Unfortunately the Help Scheme does not upgrade aerials where the property is rented, because the eligible person cannot give permission to work on the outside of the property.

'This is stipulated in the Help Scheme agreement and is not a matter for discretion.'

But the excuse has failed to impress Mr Younger-Ross who has demanded urgent action.

He has learned of at least one constituent who will be excluded by the rules and fears there will be others.

'I have drafted a letter to the secretary of state as this has to be sorted out as a matter of urgency,' he said.

'If the householder can't give permission for the work to be carried out, the housing association can, so this is sounding like a bit of a job's worth thing.

'There are other issues with the switch to digital with which I'm also not happy. Many people won't get the all the channels they think they will because simply some companies will not broadcast here, saying it's not viable. It's another example of rural areas getting a poor deal.'

The digital roadshow will be on The Lawn between 9am and 5pm.