Last updated 19:40, Thursday, 27 March 2008

BORDER TV’S Gilly Fraser and Adam Powell were in Workington last weekend and collected more than 500 signatures from people backing the Save Lookaround Campaign.

with submitted pic of Border TV presenter Adam Powell in Workington

The presenters were in the town’s Washington Square and were joined by Workington MP Tony Cunningham, encouraging people to sign the petition.

ITV wants to merge the news operations of Border and Tyne Tees to save money.

That would kill-off flagship news magazine Lookaround, which would be replaced by a programme broadcast from Gateshead including a mini-bulletin for Cumbria, southern Scotland and the Isle of Man.

Opponents fear that as well as leading to redundancies at Border, it would trigger a deterioration in news coverage of the area.

ITV says its national overhaul, which has seen six directors appointed to run six super-regions, will streamline regional operations, provide leadership, focus and replace an outdated management model. Mr Grade wants to save between £35m and £40m from regional broadcasting.

It was announced last week that Border’s managing director Paddy Merrall was stepping down and being replaced by a single director responsible for both areas.

Former Tyne Tees managing director Graeme Thompson takes up the regional role as part of a major national shake-up. Mr Merrall will remain as executive director until the end of the year.