It's all change at a Dorset radio station which has lost its local identity as well as its familiar presenters as it is swallowed up by a national service.

Dorchester-based Wessex FM has today become part of the Greatest Hits Radio brand in a move by its owner Bauer to expand.

Wessex FM, which has been on the air producing local programmes for Weymouth and west Dorset since 1993, is one of a number of local radio services around the country – including Bournemouth's Fire FM and west country service The Breeze – which have been taken over in a move to create the UK’s largest commercial radio network.

Bauer refused to comment on job losses but the Echo understands all on-air local presenters at Wessex have been made redundant or had freelance contracts ended, while the future of the Dorchester office and studios at Poundbury West Industrial Estate is uncertain.

Listen to the final local presenter link on Wessex FM:

Greatest Hits Radio plays classic hits from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s alongside regional drive time and networked breakfast shows.

The presenter line-up will include broadcasters Mark Goodier, Paul Gambaccini, Simon Mayo, Janice Long, Alex Lester and Pat Sharp as well as Greatest Hits Radio Network presenters Simon 'Rossie' Ross, and Andy Crane.

There will also be a regional drivetime programme hosted by Martin Starke.

Bauer said the station would retain some local content and services, including news and travel.

It said no decisions had been made yet on buildings, however the station will have a 'presence' in Dorset.

Listeners will still be able to tune in on FM but will also be able to access it via DAB.

Previously asked whether dropping the name Wessex would take away the station's local connection, a Bauer spokesman said: "Our research shows that listeners seek a mix of local and national content and our advertising customers are demanding nationally scaled networks. For these reasons we are evolving to meet changing listening habits and customer demands."

The station will be involved in supporting Bauer’s charity Cash For Kids including the Mission Christmas campaign. Last year Cash for Kids raised more than £20 million to help support sick and underprivileged children in the UK.

Dee Ford, Group Managing Director Radio, Bauer Radio, said “Audiences love and trust radio. Expanding the Hits Radio Brand Network will ensure listeners to these acquired stations benefit from multi-platform digital distribution meaning they can continue to broadcast in an increasingly competitive, digital and voice-activated world. This ensures the provision of local news and information, traffic and travel as well as access for advertisers to highly valued audiences.”