Blackpool-based radio station Central Radio North West is expanding its coverage into Blackburn and Burnley

Central Radio launched as a new independent local radio service across Blackpool in September 2022.

Upon celebrating its first birthday, the station’s coverage expand into Preston and Chorley in September 2023.

The station has now announced further plans to extend the digital radio coverage into Blackburn and Burnley in East Lancashire from November 1.

The move will add a further 350,000 Lancashire residents into its broadcast.

The station will bring its bigger selection of music and local information to the area, along with well-established broadcasters including UK commercial radio multi award-winning presenter, Danny Matthews, who hosts the station’s flagship breakfast show, weekdays between 6 and 10am.

Nathan Hill, Central Radio’s Station Director, says: “We’re over the moon to expand our very popular Blackpool-based radio service into even more areas of our fabulous county.”

“Since our initial launch in Blackpool last year, and shortly followed by our expansion into Preston, Leyland and Chorley just a few months ago, we’ve supported numerous charities by donating over £60,000’s worth of promotion and have given away around £20,000’s worth of prizes with various competitions, including free food for families each week with our ‘Win your Tea for Free’ which is currently partnered with McDonald’s restaurants.

“We very much wish to continue with this positive community impact into our new broadcast areas.”

Central Radio has its studios located in the Fylde and the new extended broadcast service will be available as part of the switch on of the new Blackburn and Burnley multiplex next month.

Listeners who travel out of the Blackpool area into East Lancashire will need to rescan their devices after November 1 to find Central, along with other stations not currently available.

Central Radio currently broadcasts to an audience of 630,000 people across Central and West Lancashire.

The station also broadcasts via its own dedicated mobile app, home connected devices and smart speakers alongside Freeview+ TV broadcasting on Channel 277

Listeners can find out more about the station at www.central.radio, or by the station’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Pre-launch, discounted advertising packages for local businesses are also available by emailing [email protected] or by calling 01772 977 466.