TV viewers across the Forest and Wye Valley have been left fuming as pictures are knocked out apparently by mobile phone signals.

Among readers who have contacted the Review is a woman who lives in the centre of Cinderford who says she has bought three new sets in the last few months – and all are blighted by the problem.

But while the obvious explanation is the arrival of the new 4G phone system, a government spokesman told the Review that this was not the cause locally, since the area is not served by phone masts that broadcast on 800 megahertz which have posed problems elsewhere.

But problems encountered locally include:

•Mobile phones receiving or sending texts causing TV signals to 'break up' and lose continuity.

•Constant interruption of TV signals and poor picture quality when a Blackberry or similar phone is in use.

•A persistent whistle or whining noise when a mobile phone is used for calls near a TV set.

•Televisions losing all reception and showing a 'no signal' message after severe interference from a call or text on a mobile.

•TV audio signals breaking up and getting out of sync with the picture.

But while the problems persists in many areas, in particular Lydbrook, the western districts of Cinderford, and in the Redbrook area, the solution to the difficulties that viewers are experiencing locally may well be traced to the level of signals that are being received.

Bernard Hunt of Forest Television, who has been a television engineer for 40 years, told the Review: "It is highly likely that the problems people are getting are down to a low signal value coming into their aerials.

"This means that the actual signal that is being sent to their TV set is not high enough above the background signals that are being generated by their mobile phones.

"I would recommend that people ask a reputable television repair company to check their equipment, but in many cases I would also suggest getting in a professional aerial expert to improve their signals and raise them above the level where they lose reception.

"There are some other factors too – which include very high pressure in the atmosphere, which can badly affect signals. These conditions were experienced in the area earlier this year, but these are weather based and seasonal."

He added that while the problems associated with 4G phone interference, which have been reported nationally, are far more likely to occur in urban areas, rather that in more scattered rural communities.

Government websites are available to give advice on the matter, although since they point to contributing factors to poor television signals that include trees in wind, trees in general, and wet leaves, the Forest in particular would appear to have it's own problems.

Carol Mayhew of Stowfield, Lower Lydbrook said: "The mobile phone my son uses knocks out the television signal every time it goes off, for either a call or a text.

"My neighbour's phone affects my TV in the same way. The screen breaks up and the sound goes bitsy and it takes several minutes to get back to normal. It's got to the point that we now record programmes when they are repeated in the early hours, when there are less likely to be texts and calls, and watch them later."

•Are you experiencing reception problems in your area? Let the Review know as we build up a map of affected areas. Phone 01594 841113 or email [email protected]">[email protected].