THERE were two main reasons for listening to Radio York: Mike Hurley's Saturday morning radio show and Jonathan Cowap's Sunday phone-in.

These radio shows were two of the most popular on the radio station but have been mysteriously axed with little publicity.

I hate to sound cynical but why did they keep it quiet?

Is it because they knew what the reaction would be?

Usually, when programmes are altered or taken off the air there are trailers played on Radio York weeks ahead.

In this case, even though the decision had been made weeks ago, the listeners were only told what was happening, apart from a vague trailer about changes to the weekend line-up, at just before 7pm last Thursday.

Radio York's official statement is that they are making these cut- backs because of the recent BBC audit into cost saving.

But it makes little sense.

There can be nothing cheaper than having local residents phoning in to talk about local issues.

Now there is no phone-in for local people to highlight these issues.

What with the end of the phone-in and the removal of Mike Hurley's excellent, and hilarious, Saturday morning show, the weekend schedules of Radio York are nothing to write home about.

So if, like me and many other avid Radio York listeners, you feel managing editor Matt Youdale should explain the real reasons behind the cancellation of these two shows, and why there was so little publicity about the changes in advance, show your support for these two axed programmes by contacting Radio York by post (20, Bootham Row, York, YO20 7BR), phone (01904 641351) or via www.bbc.co.uk/radioyork

Philip Lickley,

Wheatlands Grove,

York.

Updated: 09:27 Wednesday, March 30, 2005