Viewers in parts of the West Midlands will be able to watch super-clear ‘high definition’ television for free from today.

Around 4.5 million homes today came into Freeview HD coverage for the first time, including Birmingham, parts of the Black Country and Staffordshire, putting Freeview HD coverage on track to reach up to 50 per cent of the UK when the World Cup kicks off.

Freeview managing director Ilse Howling said this percentage is expected to rise to 90 per cent by the London 2012 Olympics.

Apart from a handful of games, the BBC and ITV will be showing the World Cup matches in HD on Freeview.

Ms Howling said that Wayne Rooney’s legs and “maybe even the hairs on Wayne Rooney’s legs” would be seen.

She said the launch made UK a world-leader, “doing something that no other country has done”.

Ms Howling added: “I wonder what it is that people will talk about after they have watched the prime ministerial debates in HD? Is it going to be the policies or the drop of sweat as it rolls off David Cameron’s nose?”

More than two-thirds of the UK – comprising 18.2 million homes – has Freeview and the service provides TV on the main set in 10 million households.

Viewers need to buy equipment to watch the contract-free Freeview HD service, such as special TV sets or set top boxes, with prices of Freeview HD boxes starting at £99.

Caroline Thomson, the BBC’s chief operating officer, said: “We would expect and hope to see (another) channel by the end of the year. It might be a BBC channel or it might not.”

Viewers can find out if they can receive Freeview HD by using a coverage checker at www.freeview.co.uk.