Most BBC local radio stations have begun sharing newsreaders on weekday afternoons as part of the broadcaster’s cost-saving measures.

This week staff in the North East and North West were told a pilot which would have enabled each of their stations to keep their own live news bulletins has ended and will see them revert to the same sharing model as other regions of England. However, each station will continue to have bespoke local news in their bulletins.

Press Gazette understands this means 22 out of 39 BBC local radio stations will be sharing a newsreader in pairs, with half of the stations having their news bulletins pre-recorded (usually at 20 minutes to the hour) by someone in a neighbouring area.