COUNCILLORS look likely to support plans to give County Durham its own local 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's cultural services director, Patrick Conway, writes in a report to Thursday's cabinet meeting: "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 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 who was formerly with BBC radio, Metro Radio, and TFM, former managing director of Sun FM and an adviser to Alpha.

Mr Conway says in his report that having a big media company in the county would help to develop and sustain identity.

He recommends the council welcomes the proposed licence and takes a proactive role, adding: "In doing this, it may well be appropriate to comment about the coverage and nature of the franchise. 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 November 10 on 107MHz, had been well received