Kent's longest-running commercial radio breakfast show is to be axed and the studios where it is broadcast from are to close.

Global, which owns Heart Kent, has confirmed it will be broadcasting a national breakfast show on its network by the end of this year. That means the end for its local breakfast show, which has been hosted by James Heming for 20 years.

The move across the group, which also owns Capital and Smooth stations, means up to 100 people could lose their jobs.

The changes also mean kmfm will become Kent's only commercial station broadcasting shows from the county including local news and travel.

Earlier this month, industry figures revealed thousands more people are tuning in to kmfm, while Breakfast with Garry and Laura has seen the biggest audience gain with 128,000 people now listening.

Heart Kent broadcasts from studios on the John Wilson Business Park in Whitstable, but due to deregulation breakfast shows are set to go and only a limited number of local drivetime shows will be provided.

The news was not welcomed by one listener, Wayne Bristow who tweeted his thoughts earlier.

The rest of the output on the station will be networked with local news, adverts and information.

Another listener sports enthusiast, @Butts1977 also posted on Twitter to say he was sad to hear the news.

Heart will get a single breakfast show across England putting an end to the current line-up of 22 breakfast shows and their teams.

James Heming has been hosting the breakfast show on the station for around 20 years.

Instead of 23 separate drivetime shows nationally, there will be 10 covering the enlarged areas.

All local and regional weekend programmes on all brands will end with national programmes provided on all frequencies.

Global’s founder Ashley Tabor made the announcement to staff this morning in the capital and via video link to the rest of the company.

He said: “Whilst the new deregulation will mean some significant changes at an operational level, these bold steps enable Global to lead the way in launching the UK’s 3 largest national commercial radio breakfast shows.

"We’re really excited to combine the best national talent with our unique ability to include great local content in network shows on Heart, Capital and Smooth.”

A large number of staff will no longer be required to work for the stations and are facing redundancy with some being transferred to other stations

Global was formed in 2007 and it is the owner of the largest commercial radio company in Europe.

To listen to kmfm from where ever you are in the world, visit www.kmfm.co.uk