DURHAM'S radio station could be launched by the autumn, the company that won the licence said last night.

Communication regulator Ofcom has awarded the 12-year licence to Durham FM, part of the Local Radio Company, which operates Darlington's Alpha FM and Sun FM, in Sunderland.

The company promised a music-led station for a wide audience that will play popular hits from the 1960s to today and will provide local traffic, travel, weather, and sport and events news.

It expects to reach 200,000 listeners across much of the county. Stereo signals could be received in Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor, Sedgefield, Stanley and Chester-le-Street.

It will broadcast on two FM frequencies, yet to be allocated, from Burnhope and Brusselton, with a booster to combat Durham's hilly terrain.

The station will employ about 15 people full-time, as well as freelancers, and will have a studio in the city.

Project manager Brian Lister said: "It is all systems go now. We are hoping to go on air by the autumn, subject to us being able to install the transmitters and build the studio by then."

Durham FM chairman John Anderson said: "We are delighted with Ofcom's decision.

"We thought we had a strong proposal, based on considerable research and two years of hard work, including two highly successful trial broadcasts.''

Prince FM, also known as Durham Local Radio -a consortium that included Newsquest North-East, publisher of The Northern Echo -and Durham 2Day FM also bid for the licence.