AN MP is campaigning to save small local radio stations.

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones said smaller stations were in danger of being cut off when radio moves from analogue to digital in 2015.

Mr Jones said community broadcasters would lose out to larger stations because they will not be able to access the airwaves.

He said: “Many people will have a digital radio, but radio is still broadcast unlike TV on analogue through FM, medium wave and long wave frequencies. The switch date still remains 2015, however there are numerous issues that are a cause for concern.

“A major issue is that of small radio stations who will not find available bandwidth on the DAB only frequencies.

“Local radio is important and the bandwidth should not be allowed to be taken up by the large radio providers.

“They are vulnerable to being left on legacy analogue radio which, even if it is not turned off, will still have a dwindling audience as DAB sales increase with the DAB switchover.

“I have consistently taken up this issue and received two replies from the minister which both address the issue.

“However, it declines to commit the government to the introduction of DAB+ but instead looks to local technological solution to extending DAB for the purpose of including local radio.”