THOUSANDS more households are to receive TV signal after two new TV masts are switched on Arqiva announced yesterday.

Arqiva, site operators for Bilsdale mast, say viewers in and around Loftus and Thirsk will need to retune their TVs to restore the main channels after the switch on.

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Around 6,000 households have had their TV services restored or improved as part of the switch on, which took place over the weekend.

The infrastructure company say that now more than 95 per cent of households across the region have now had their TV services restored and engineers are out measuring signal strengths to enable further progress.

Several more of what Arqiva are calling, relay sites, are set to soon follow across the region as Arqiva seek to restore services to those affected by the fire at Bilsdale mast.

Work is continuing on a second 80-metre mast at Bilsdale which is set to further improve the quality of services across North Yorkshire and County Durham.

Site operators are working closely with regional charities, local authorities and housing associations to reach those people whose services have not been restored.

Arqiva say residents living in “not-spot” areas where there is still no TV should have received an official letter containing instructions on how to claim a £50 voucher for Currys online and in store.

Adrian Twyning, director of operations at Arqiva, said: “We are working round the clock to restore TV services and to help those affected.

“These smaller relay sites are a key part of Project Restore, and more of them will soon follow.

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“We’re sorry for the disruption this has caused for people, and while we are making progress there is also much to do. Our teams are now working on the task of building a second 80-metre mast at Bilsdale to provide a better quality signal to the area.”

Arqiva have also announced that the number of engineers available to provide support to eligible households is being increased from this week.

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