Party leaders at Coventry City Council have united to condemn "devastating" cuts to local radio in the city.

BBC CWR is set to lose its weekday afternoon programmes and will share a show with Shropshire and Hereford & Worcester.

It's part of cuts to BBC local radio stations across the UK which were confirmed on Tuesday (November 1).

But council leader Cllr George Duggins and opposition leader Cllr Gary Ridley say the plans will "have a serious and terrible effect on the people of Coventry."

In a letter to BBC Director General Tim Davie sent today they warn it could be the nail in the coffin for media coverage of the city.

The pair wrote to Mr Davie to express their concern at the news and urged him to protect the station.

In the letter seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) they wrote: "We believe these proposed cuts would have a serious and terrible effect on the people of Coventry.

"With local programming only available between the hours of 6am and 2pm, you are denying countless people access to that service.

"You cannot expect people to rely on their iPads and mobile phones for all their local content, it must be available to them on their evening commute, on the school run, and when they return home.

"Coventry is a vibrant and independent city. We do not want to be linked to other areas with whom we have little in common – such as your proposal to partner Coventry with the more rural areas of Hereford and Shropshire for its regional content."

They added: "We do not see why we should not be treated the same as other major cities such as our neighbours Birmingham, which will not see any changes to BBC WM under these proposals.

"We want, and need, our local stations to be exactly that – local."

The pair also stressed local media's importance in holding elected officials to account, stating: "Coventry, like many cities across the UK, has enjoyed strong local journalism over the years, with print, radio and television journalists playing a key part in city life.

"Sadly, over recent years, we have seen that service diminish and these proposed cuts would be a devastating, and possibly final, blow.

"The relationship between politicians and news outlets may not always be a smooth one, but that is only right.

"Local journalism is there to challenge us and to hold local organisations and businesses to account.

"It is there to protect democracy, inform local people, give them a balanced view and allow them to form their own opinions."

They ended the letter by calling for the BBC to reconsider the changes.

"We feel for those journalists and support staff who face losing their jobs, and we also feel for the future of our city, and we urge you to reconsider these cuts which take us to the brink of the end of local radio and local journalism.

"We have seen our newspapers gradually disappear over recent years and the city is poorer for it. Do not let such a respected and trusted radio station suffer the same fate.

"Please act now to protect our local radio stations and ensure the BBC continues to do what it has done so well over the years – serve the people of the country and keep them informed."