PENSIONERS plan to take to the streets in protest at a radio presenter being taken off the air.

Alan Wright was told on Friday that his contract with BBC Radio Cleveland would not be renewed - after 30 years with the station.

Tomorrow, a group from the Cleveland Pensioners' Convention Forum will gather outside the station, in Middlesbrough, between noon and 2pm to protest at his departure.

Forum secretary Mike Findley said: "A lot of people think Alan is an absolutely brilliant presenter. No one can understand why they've got rid of him. It's like Manchester United getting rid of David Beckham.

"We want to let station bosses know that we are 100 per cent behind him. The one concern that a lot of people have is that they didn't even have the decency to give him the chance to say goodbye to his listeners."

Wright, 55, from Hartlepool, said last night he was touched by the gesture. "I don't expect it to have any bearing on my future at Radio Cleveland, but I think the listeners - the licence payers - have a right to make their views known."

A BBC spokesman said: "If people want to protest, we can't stop them. What this is about first and foremost is nurturing our own talent. It's nothing against Alan personally."