OFFICIALS are backing plans to give Durham City and surrounding areas their own radio station.

The Radio Authority intends to advertise next year for applicants to run an independent local radio service in the county.

There are local stations for Sunderland (Sun FM) and Darlington (Alpha Radio), as well as the bigger commercial services, Metro, Magic, TFM, Century and Galaxy, and the BBC's Cleveland and Newcastle stations.

It is expected that the new station would cover Durham City, Derwentside, Wear Valley, Chester-le-Street and part of Sedgefield.

Durham County Council Cultural Services director Patrick Conway compiled a report, which was due to be put to a cabinet meeting on Thursday this week.

In it he said: "Durham is unique among British cities, having once had its own local radio station, which was them removed.

"BBC Radio Durham closed in the early 1970s when the BBC chose to move investment and effort to Cumbria.''

A temporary station, Durham FM, is currently broadcasting until Friday, December 6. It has been put on air with backing from Radio Investments Ltd, which has 22 stations and plans to bid for the eight-year licence. Other bidders are expected.

The Durham FM team is led by Brian Lister, a County Durham man, formerly with BBC radio, Metro Radio and TFM, and former managing director of Sun FM and an adviser to Alpha.

Mr Conway recommended that the council welcome the proposed licence and take a 'proactive role' in the application process.

"It is suggested signal strength should enable the proposed station to be picked up throughout County Durham.

Mr Lister said the temporary station, which started broadcasting on Sunday, November 10, on 107Mhz, had been well received.

"The feedback we have been getting is positive. There hasn't been one person who has said to me why do we need a station for Durham.Everybody understands that Durham is getting its act together in so many ways and that to be a city and not have a radio station is really unusual.''