THE BBC is to expand its local radio service in the North.

In March, the corporation will launch 104.3FM BBC North Yorkshire for listeners in the Harrogate, Ripon, Thirsk and Northallerton areas.

It will provide a more localised version of the existing news, information and programmes provided by BBC Radio York, with staff based in Northallerton and Harrogate.

Output editor David Dunning said: "This new service will basically give this area the best of Radio York, while recognising that for this part of the world the city of York isn't always the centre of the universe.