Figures reveal 889 BBC employees received pay increases equivalent to between 10 and 20 per cent while 256 staffers  saw their salaries rise by more than 20 per cent. Across both groups the average rise was £6,980, costing licence fee payers an additional £7.9 million. This would have been enough to maintain free TV licences for 51,000 pensioners.

Furious campaigners described the awards as “sickening” while over-75s were struggling to set aside £3 a week to continue watching TV.

Jan Shortt of the National Pensioners Convention (NPC), described the pay rises as “completely and utterly” unacceptable.

She said: “It’s sickening that they would consider giving these rises at a time when they are claiming they don’t have the money to fund over-75s’ licences.”

The NPC is urging people of all ages to write to Boris Johnson calling for the Government to take back responsibility for the free licences. The new system will see over-75s who claim pension credit keep their free licences but campaigners fear pensioners whose incomes are just above the threshold will be pushed into poverty.

More than 630,000 people have signed a petition demanding the cuts are scrapped.

The broadcaster defended the pay rises, saying that staff had earned them for a number of reasons.

A BBC spokesman said: “While there are strict rules around any pay increases it’s only right that when people are promoted or take on extra responsibilities it’s reflected in their salary.

“Just as at any organisation, there will be a number of cases where people are promoted to a significantly more senior or prominent role or take on a wide range of extra responsibilities.”

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The figures relate to the 19,000 staff employed by the BBC’s main public service arm and exclude on-air talent who are paid through a separate system.

Spending on presenters and actors earning more than £150,000 rose from £19.8 million to £21.8 million last year, according to the most recent BBC “rich list”.

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