JUST who is the number one radio station in Lancashire?

A war of words has broken out between the county's two leading radio stations - with both claiming to have more listeners!

Radio Lancashire and Preston-based Rock FM are both claiming a ratings victory following the latest figures released by independent radio audience research body RAJAR.

And bosses at The Bay in Lancaster have argued that their station is the North West's number one - despite having fewer listeners than its two local rivals.

At first glance, Rock FM appears to have the upper hand with listening figures of 440,000 per week compared to Radio Lancashire's 245,000.

But the Preston-based station's audience range covers the North West, whereas the BBC station has only counted listeners in Lancashire. So who has the right to claim top spot? "We could both be correct," admitted Mark Matthews, programme director at Red Rose Radio, which runs Rock FM.

"Our catchment area covers Lancashire, the top of Merseyside and the top of Greater Manchester. Radio Lancashire covers a slightly different area.

"But I'm surprised that they have claimed to be number one in the county. I don't understand their maths. A quarter of a million listeners sounds about right, but that doesn't match our listening figures.

"We count all our listeners from age four to death. But some quote their listeners from age 15 upwards. And both methods are legitimate." But Steve Taylor, Radio Lancashire's station editor, hit back: "Each station has its own transmission area. Within the administrative county of Lancashire, our station is listened to by 22 per cent, whereas Rock FM have an audience share of 21.5 per cent. There's hardly anything in it - there never is."

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