RADIO listeners in Ayrshire will be saying gooodbye to West Sound in the not-too-distant future.

Owners Bauer Media have announced plans to rebrand seven of the company's stations across Scotland under the 'Greatest Hits Radio' banner.

West Sound Ayrshire will join Clyde 2, Forth 2, MFR 2, Northsound 2, Tay 2 and West Sound in Dumfries and Galloway, who will now all be airing under the same name.

Bauer intends to launch "Scotland’s first nationwide commercial radio station" from April 3, 2023.

The change in branding brings to an end more than 40 years of the West Sound name, with the station's first progammes having been broadcast in October 1981.

Bauer's FM station for Ayrshire, West FM, will not be affected by the rebrand.

Programmes on West Sound have not been broadcast from Ayrshire since 2013, while West FM moved to Bauer's studios in Clydebank in 2017, when the studio in Ayr's Holmston Road was closed.

Bosses at Bauer insist the rebrand "makes total sense" - and will mean that listeners across Scotland will be able to find the same presenters and music more easily.

They say that Ewen Cameron and Cat Harvey will continue as hosts of the station's Scotland-wide breakfast show, with the details of the full schedule set to be announced soon.

Bauer also says "local news and information, including traffic and travel", as well as advertising opportunities for businesses, will remain following the rebrand

Station frequencies will stay the same.

Bauer says West Sound will also continue to support disadvantaged young people across Ayrshire through the company's Cash for Kids charity.

Speaking about the change, breakfast show hosts Ewen and Cat said: “We are thrilled to be leading the Breakfast Show each weekday on Greatest Hits Radio as it expands into Scotland, creating the first nationwide commercial station.

"We have some really exciting plans up our sleeves and can’t wait to reveal them later this year.”

Victoria Easton-Riley, content director for Bauer Scotland added: “Entertaining hundreds of thousands of listeners a week, West Sound, is much-loved for its playlist of classic hits and entertaining content, so rebranding as Greatest Hits Radio just makes total sense.

"Strengthened under its new name, we’re so excited by the scope of opportunity ahead, including national marketing campaigns and more.”