THE licence to broadcast Darlington's local radio station is being put on the market.

Next week, the Radio Authority will ask to hear from companies interested in applying for the town's local radio licence on the FM waveband.

Alpha 103.2, which currently holds the licence, has confirmed is it to apply for a further eight-year extension.

The station started broadcasting across Darlington, Sedgefield and Newton Aycliffe in November 1995 and the current licence runs out in November 2003.

Any other parties interested in taking over the licence have until July 23 to express an interest to the Radio Authority which regulates all commercial radio stations. They must pay a non-refundable application fee of £1,500 and a returnable deposit of £20,000.

If Alpha is the only company to reapply for the licence, a fast track procedure will begin to allow it to continue broadcasting.

Alpha bosses do not expect anyone else to bid for a licence and hope to hear that they have been successful a few weeks later.

The local station serves around 110,000 people in Darlington aged 15 and above.

Overall audience figures show that Alpha 103.2 now has more listeners than ever before in the Darlington, Sedgefield and Newton Aycliffe areas, beating all other stations - local, regional or national.

Based at studios on Woodland Road in Darlington, the station broadcasts music combined with local news and information 24 hours a day.

Manager Joe Radcliffe said he is very proud of the achievements of the station.

Mr Radcliffe added: "It's unlikely we will get contested, especially in relation to how successful we have been, and providing that nobody else applies for it we would realistically expect to be awarded a licence."

Listeners are also being asked to give their views on what the local station provides and what changes they would like to hear.

Anyone with views on the future of the station should write to Holbrook House, 14 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5DG.