The new TV licence initiative will begin later this month.

Inspectors are to use a Land Rover 4x4 to track down unlicensed properties in farms and cottages in remote locations.

The new scheme was piloted in Scotland last month and proved such a success that Wales is now being targeted.

However, the Farmers' Union of Wales said the crackdown could be seen as "overkill".

The 4x4 will start by probing the Brecon area later this month, but it will cover the entire mid Wales region eventually.

Handheld detectors will be used to hunt for those without a licence.

"Visits to evaders in rural areas have always been part of our operations," said Michelle Hughes, of TV Licensing Wales.

This might be seen as an overkill by officials as mid Wales isn't the most populated of areas Alan Morris, Farmers' Union of Wales

"However, we want evaders to know that we have new and effective ways to allow our officers to track down licence evaders in hard-to-reach, remote properties, even those properties with no road access.

"Our database of over 28 million UK addresses tells us which rural properties are unlicensed, so our enquiry officers are targeting those rural properties in Brecon and Powys with the 4 x 4.

"The clear message to all licence evaders - no matter where they live - is that they won't get away with it."

Mid Wales has fewer people per acre than any other part of the country.

Ms Hughes added: "Paying your licence is easy using direct debit or one of our other payment schemes, so there is no excuse for breaking the law.

People caught without a licence could face a trip to court and a fine of up to �1,000, she said.

Alan Morris of the Aberystwyth-based Farmers' Union of Wales said: "I think it's unfair to suggest people in the countryside, such as farmers, try and evade the licence fee.

"Farmers deal with regulations and rules everyday and are well aware of the penalties if they ignore them. The majority of countryside people and farmers are law-abiding.

"This might be seen as an overkill by officials as mid Wales isn't the most populated of areas."

In 2002, it was estimated that TV licence evaders cost the BBC more than �200m a year.