Cumbria is to become the first area in the country to receive only digital television signals.

In October this year, the region's analogue broadcasting equipment will be switched off.

The switch-off is the first part of a programme that will cover the entire country, and which is due to be completed by the end of 2012.

After that point, no analogue television broadcasts will be available, and viewers will need a Freeview set-top box or enabled television set, cable or satellite service in order to watch television.

Only 25,000 people will be affected by the first change, which is taking place in Whitehaven and Copeland in Cumbria and will be a test for the process that will take place in the rest of the country.

BBC Two will be the first channel to go, on 17 October 2007, and the other three available analogue channels will disappear on 14 November 2007. Dates for the analogue switch-off in other parts of the country are yet to be announced.

People aged over 75 and those with certain disabilities will receive help to install new equipment, provided by Digital UK, which is in charge of the switchover. Any pensioners aged less than 75 will be able to get help from Age Concern.

Nearly half of the country's television sets are connected to some kind of digital receiver, according to recent research from broadcast regulator Ofcom.

While this leaves some 31 million sets unable to get digital broadcasts, most of them are secondary sets, in kitchens or bedrooms.