An Oxfordshire TV transmitter is in line to be the first in Britain switched to digital -- leaving those who haven't paid for a special connection with blank screens.

A BBC report earmarks the transmitter on Hinksey Hill, Oxford, as a good place to start the digital revolution. But unless households have a TV capable of receiving digital, or a £40 set-top box to upgrade their old one, they will be left without sound and vision when conventional analogue transmissions are cut throughout the BBC Oxford region.

The Government wants to convert the entire country to digital by 2010. The report -- Progress Towards Achieving a Digital Switchover -- says the switch would be 'most straightforward' here because the area is relatively flat.

A BBC spokesman said: "The Government want to switch off analogue and go over to digital and the BBC is making suggestions about how further progress can be made in a region-by-region switchover.

"The report highlights that because of the geographical nature of the area, the Oxford transmitter would be easy to switch off -- but that is entirely a decision for the Government."

But analysts have warned significant problems lie ahead -- making a 2010 changeover unlikely.

If the Government did push the project before viewers update their sets with digital boxes thousands of households could be left without television.

There are also fears a hardcore of "digital refuseniks" will refuse to take up the new technology, and research suggests that could be as many as 13 per cent of the population.

Department of Culture Media and Sport spokesman Sharon Creary said: "There are no definite plans on which region will go first."