Local MP Michael Moore has welcomed the arrival of DAB digital radio to the Borders.

4.50.14pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 10th Oct 2007

Mr Moore received confirmation this afternoon from the BBC that they have today switched on the national DAB digital radio transmitter at Selkirk, making it the 99th transmitter to go live in the UK.

The new BBC services will cover large parts of the region, but there is still no word about when any commercial radio stations will follow suit.

The BBC's decision to make their stations available in the Borders follows months of campaigning by Michael Moore and many of his constituents.

Earlier this year, Mr Moore uncovered figures which revealed that no new digital radio transmitters had been built in Scotland in the past two years, and that Scotland was effectively being ignored in the digital radio advance.

Mr Moore believes that the BBC's subsequent decision to make digital radio available in the Borders was a victory for common sense, as the area being championed as the first to switch over to digital television faced being left without the radio equivalent.

However, Mr Moore has pledged to continue to fight for BBC digital radio to be available in the whole area and to bring commercial radio to the digital airwaves across the region.

Speaking immediately after the BBC's technical team had switched on the transmitter, Mr Moore said:

"I am delighted that many of my constituents will now be able to enjoy a greater range of radio stations and significantly improved sound quality. The BBC are to be congratulated on their decision to provide us with their digital stations, and for making them available ahead of the expected time.

"Today marks a victory in the fight for digital services, but the battle is yet to be won. We are still without the commercial stations, and although these new stations will reach 40,000 people in Roxburgh and Selkirkshire, many parts of Berwickshire will not be able to receive the signal.

"I will continue to press the BBC to make good their commitment to provide digital radio to Berwickshire in advance of next year's switchover to digital television."