PLUMMETING listening figures at BBC Radio Solent has prompted a cull of big names at the radio station.

Blind broadcaster Peter White, who has worked at the station for more than 35 years, is one of the top names to be axed.

Sally Taylor will take over the Saturday morning breakfast show this weekend, with Lucy Warhurst's early morning Saturday show extended from 5am to 8am.

Peter White branded the decision "undignified" after he and fellow presenters were given less than a week's notice that they were to lose their jobs.

The shock news comes as figures revealed the Southampton station lost a quarter of its audience share in the past year, faced with strong opposition from local independent radio stations.

According to RAJAR figures, which monitors radio audience levels, Solent's share dropped from 12.6 per cent to 9.5 per cent.

Ater hosting his last Saturday morning show, Peter White said that he was "puzzled at the haste of the decision".

Among those also axed was veteran sailing correspondent Dennis Skillicorn, who shared the airwaves with Peter for the last time at the weekend.

Peter, 59, said: "I understand they have their reasons and that's what managing a radio station is all about, but it's a bit undignified. It can't only be about ratings. It has to be about content as well. Dennis was also disappointed with the decision.

Peter started working at BBC Radio Solent more than 35 years ago and was one of the original presenters when it opened on New Year's Eve 1970.

He added: "I don't blame them - they have figures to look at. They have commercial competitors, but if they want to take themselves down market that's something I don't want to be part of.

"That's the nature of show business and shows have their length of time. I've had a very good run."

Other casualties of the shake up include Sunday night jazz show host Chris Walker and Top Soil presenter Pippa Greenwood.

Georgina Windsor will replace Pippa Greenwood with a new gardening show called Good Life, on Sundays from noon to 2pm.

The BBC being caught by commercial rivals Wave FM, whose audience share is up to 8.7 per cent, compared with Radio Solent's 9.5 per cent.

More people are listening to the Segensworth-based station (21 per cent) at some point each week, compared with Solent's 19 per cent.

A spokesman for the BBC said the moves were in response to "difficult figures" and "rapidly changing audience figures".

Peter White, who is landlord of The Mash Tun in Winchester, and is BBC Radio 4's disability affairs correspondent, said: "I envisage I will be spending the time in my pub. I started doing this job to get out of shopping with my wife, but I'll be damned if I'll be doing that now I have time for it!"

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