Sweeping schedule changes and the axing of top presenters are being lined up for the two Southend-based independent radio stations, it emerged today.

Two of Breeze AM's most popular shows are being scrapped while the entire programme line-up of both Breeze and sister station Essex FM are under scrutiny by new bosses GWR as part of a multi-million pound takeover deal.

The changes - which include the possibility of axing the Breeze name altogether - will come in over the next six weeks after GWR confirmed it had agreed a £146 million deal to take over all the UK and international radio interests of Essex Radio Group's parent company DMG Radio Ltd.

Already confirmed for the axe are the Breeze AM breakfast show, hosted by Peter Holmes, and the mid-morning show, hosted by station manager Ray Clark.

They will be replaced by GWR's Classic Gold network shows hosted by veteran former Radio 1 DJs Dave Lee Travis and Paul Burnett.

Peter Holmes will stay with the station but will move to a different slot. However, the future for Ray Clark who has been with the station since its inception 11 years ago is unclear.

Plans for other shows and presenters, including five who are freelance, also remain unclear until programming bosses decide their fate within four to six weeks.

All 48 staff at the stations' Clifftown Road headquarters have been under strict instructions not to speak to the media about the changes.

But six admin and support posts have already been axed this week and a GWR spokeswoman confirmed there would be more "restructuring" in the weeks to come. The whole deal must be approved by the Radio Authority whose members meet on September 7 to discuss it.

Suzanne Smith, GWR's director of media relations, said the changes proposed at Breeze were in line with their other AM stations nationwide but she added that their FM stations tended to keep their local broadcasts.

She said: "There will be a Classic Gold format at Breeze within four to six weeks although there will still be five regional opt-outs for news and local information.

"I can also confirm that we are consulting with a panel of 1,000 FM listeners in the Southend area with a view to doing market research for the Essex FM schedule. We do not network FM and any changes there will be in schedule rather than personnel."

She added: "Dave Lee Travis and Paul Burnett are great broadcasters. These are positive moves.

"At the moment the Breeze name will remain but a lot of our AM stations have been rebranded. We do not know what will happen at this time." This is all an ongoing exercise."

GWR owns Classic FM, at least four local FM stations in the UK.

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