Global Radio has announced the closure of its studios in Kendal and Lancaster.

The firm bought Lakeland Radio, based in Kendal and The Bay, based in Lancaster in late 2017.

They were rebranded Smooth Lake District and Heart Cumbria and North Lancashire.

It has been announced today that it is closing 10 of its dedicated 24 studios across the country and will replace its 40-plus local breakfast shows with nationwide programmes.

Global owns leading stations Heart, Smooth, Capital, Classic FM and LBC.

Global chief executive and founder, Ashley Tabor, said: "While it would mean change, the ability to lead the commercial radio sector’s next huge step, and to properly compete with BBC Radio 1 and 2 at breakfast time, is a huge opportunity."

Ofcom issued new regulations last year, which meant station owners could reduce regional programming to three hours a day from seven hours to meet the conditions of local broadcasting licences.

It also removed the requirement for stations to produce their own breakfast show, as long as they have an "enhanced local news service".

The Guardian reports that Global has a single news team, covering its stations.

The rollout will begin in the spring.

Tim Farron, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP, said: "This is a really sad day. Brilliant presenters, producers, journalists and those behind the scenes look set to lose their jobs.

“But this decision is also a betrayal of communities across our area that rely on these stations to keep in touch with what’s going on in their area.

“This has only been allowed to happen because of the Government’s choice to change the guidelines so that stations can significantly reduce the amount of local content that they have to provide.

“As a result we are seeing the end of commercial local radio – not just here in Cumbria but across the country.”

The former owner of the radio stations was CN Group, which owned The Bay since 1999 and Lakeland since 2005.