FORMER community radio presenter with Stray FM, Nick Hancock, has joined the line-up of Rombalds Radio, with a new mid-morning programme.

Nick previously hosted Stray FM's breakfast show which was broadcast across Skipton and Ilkley from January 2012 until August 2020 when Greatest Hits Radio took over the frequencies.

Nick, who went on to found radio station Your Harrogate, in 2020 with colleague Adam Daniel, said he is delighted to be back on the airways across the Aire and Wharfe valleys.

In October it was announced Your Harrogate had completed a takeover of Rombalds Radio from which the new partnership has announced that listeners will soon be able to tune in via digital radio after media regulator Ofcom announced a new ‘small-scale’ DAB multiplex licence will finally be available to apply for in early 2024.

Rombalds Radio co-founder and breakfast show presenter Stuart Clarkson, from Silsden who started the station off with Ilkley's Nick Babb, said of the recent changes: "The team at Your Harrogate has a brilliant radio and online product - and do many things that we’ve not been able to offer to businesses in our area because of limited resources. This (partnership) will ensure the continuation of local programmes and content while preparing the station we created from scratch to be an even bigger success in the future.

He said of Nick Hancock's role: "We're delighted to welcome back Nick to local radio in Ilkley, Skipton and Keighley. You're going to see him out and about across the area too over the coming weeks and months - so if he pops into your workplace please make him a brew.

Speaking about his Rombalds Radio slot, Nick said: "I had such a good time working in this area before. I can't wait to get started."

Nick will be playing a whole range of music and bringing listeners all the latest local news each weekday from 10am.

He added: "The music on Rombalds Radio is great and I know for many people working from home I’ll be their company for the morning. I’ve normally got a few stories from my own kids and family to share plus I can tell you all the brilliant local events we are supporting."

In other schedule changes, Ilkley’s Nick Babb will now start his show from 2pm each afternoon with ‘Giant Anthems’ 2pm - 3pm plus all the latest travel news. Nick Bewes, who presented on his hometown station Fresh Radio in Skipton for many years, moves to a new early evening 6pm - 8pm slot on weeknights.