BBC journalists in Kent and Sussex will take part in a 24 hour strike following the broadcaster's plans to cut local radio services.

A picket line outside the Tunbridge Wells BBC office on Mount Pleasant Road is set to take place from 11am today.

There will also be an online rally between 5pm and 6pm.

The move comes after the National Union of Journalists (NUJ)'s campaign to persuade the BBC to change plans which the union believes will “kill off” local radio didn't "move enough".

BBC local staffing in England is expected to reduce by around 48 posts and the NUJ believes it will "seriously diminish a service that is highly valued by listeners and underpins local democracy".

According to the union, the BBC’s original proposals include local radio stations sharing programmes with neighbouring stations after 2pm on weekdays and at weekends. Some news bulletins would also be pre-recorded.

The plans result in a loss of posts and journalists having to re-apply for their own jobs, it says.

A compromise put forward by the broadcaster which would have seen less sharing was rejected by 70 per cent of NUJ members.

The NUJ carried then out a formal industrial action ballot of BBC Local members working for local radio, TV and online in England seeking views on whether they were willing to take strike action.

It saw 83% of members voting in favour of strike action and 92% in favour of action short of a strike. A turnout of 69% was achieved, the union informed.

Further strike action is set to be announced, with potential dates including coverage of the local elections, Coronation and the Eurovision contest.

Paul Siegert, NUJ national broadcasting officer said: "This is the biggest threat facing local radio since it launched in 1967.

"The key to its success over the past 50 years has been its localness.

"When it stops being local it loses its USP. People in Kent don’t care about what is going on in Sussex.

"If these proposals are allowed to go ahead it will be the beginning of the end for local radio.

"The NUJ is not opposed to the BBC investing in digital services, but there are ways of having both.

"More than five million people listen to local radio and many of them pay their licence fee largely because of local radio. They have every right to be angry."