WORK to the Oxford TV antenna, which covers more than 410,000 homes, suffered a minor setback yesterday due to snow showers.

Workmen had planned to change the digital antenna on top of the Oxfordshire mast at Beckley, pictured, using a helicopter, but the weather conditions meant it was not safe for work men to proceed.

Two weeks ago we revealed hundreds of TV viewers were experiencing problems receiving ITV, Channel Four and Five because of planned engineering works to the mast.

Digital UK, the company handling the digital switchover for the government, apologised for the disruption and said normal services should resume in April, when the work is completed.

Last night Peter Monteith, from Digital UK, said the company had chosen not to worry viewers by warning them of the work in case there had been no disruption to their TV signal.

He said if people really wanted to watch the missing channels they could either switch back to analogue television, which may be operating with a reduced signal, or watch shows online.

He said: “We are not going to say to people go out and spend £150 on a new aerial because the problem will be fixed by April and it will not be worth it.

“Unless we experience severe weather problems the work is still on schedule to be finished by April.

“But these things do depend very heavily on the weather and if it is not safe to send workmen up the mast then we will not do so.”

Work is expected to resume on the mast today.