RAJAR: More listeners for BBC Locals

It worked for 6 Music – and has the threat of cutbacks has given BBC Local Radio a boost of a quarter of a million listeners in the last quarter.

BBC Local Radio in England is up 263,000 listeners on the quarter to 7.6m with market share also up to is at 9%, up from 8.2% last year.

The increase comes as the BBC DQF program, announced yesterday, proposed a national evening show and the removal of local early breakfast shows.

David Holdsworth, Controller of BBC English Regions said: “This continued growth shows that quality local public service broadcasting continues to be valued by our listeners and we remain on track to develop further growth in the long term.”