Six consortiums are in the running to give Worthing a radio station to call its own.

They want an FM licence to broadcast to the town and surrounding area.

The Radio Authority - the Government body which regulates independent commercial broadcasting - plans to advertise the licence in October.

The winner is expected to be announced in April 2002.

Here we run through the contenders in the battle for control of Worthing's airwaves.

1. SOUTHDOWN RADIO The group behind Southdown Radio said it realised the need for a Worthing station as far back as 1993. Chairman and founder Brian Bird has brought together radio specialists from the Worthing area and beyond to form "a powerful and enterprising board".

Members include Kim Hartley, publisher of Sussex Life magazine, experienced local broadcasters Patrick Woodward and Mark Spofforth, and Steve Crowther, head teacher of Durrington High School.

They are joined by Michael Betton, chief executive of Lincs FM, and Chris Carnegy, one time stalwart of Radio Victory but currently managing director of SouthCity FM, which broadcasts to the Southampton area.

Southdown Radio said its philosophy was simple: Local roots with national standards.

Mr Bird said: "Our team brings together a wide range of experience to create a station of which Worthing will be proud. We look forward to running the best possible service for the widest possible audience, 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

2. WBC In summer 1999, former Southern FM and South Coast Radio presenter Bob James got together friends and former colleagues with the intention of putting on a 28-day "restricted service licence" for the Worthing area.

In November of that year, Worthing Radio 106.8FM took to the airwaves.

Dozens of messages of support were received and, with the possibility of an eight-year FM licence being advertised, the Wireless Broadcasting Company (WBC) was formed.

The position of chairman was filled by Harold Piggott, a former Mayor of Worthing. Managing director Mr James was one of the founder members of Southlands Hospital Radio at Shoreham.

WBC's bid is backed by media group Chrysalis and Newsquest (Sussex), which publishes The Argus and Leader series of newspapers and this site.

Chrysalis spokesman Daniel Owen said: "With the unrivalled media expertise brought by the involvement of both Chrysalis and The Argus, I am confident we are the clear front-runners."

3. YWFM Investors in the station include the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, owner of the Goodwood Estate, and Infinity Media, a subsidiary of the UKRD radio group which has holdings in stations throughout the UK.

Managing director Paul Morris is a finance lecturer with many years' experience as a broadcaster, while programme controller Will Chambers is currently presenting for a children's satellite TV station.

YWFM, launched in June 2000, will be aimed at the 25 to 55 age range, which makes up more than 50 per cent of the local population.

The station is based at the Chatsworth Hotel, Worthing, from where it staged a 28-day trial broadcast in October 2000.

It also held a series of live shows at the Worthing Car Show in Steyne Gardens and is entering a float in this month's Worthing carnival.

YWFM said it was committed to establishing a service with strong community links which offered local commercial enterprises the opportunity of valuable advertising and sponsorship.

4. WORTHING RADIO Worthing Radio said it would be the "voice of Worthing" with a service which was "relevant, authoritative, passionate, informative, proud and bright".

The station would broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week from studios in the town.

Heading the bid is Worthing-born David Palmer, a former Financial Times reporter who has spent all his life working in the media.

David is chairman of South West Sussex Radio, the company that operates Spirit FM.

Fellow Worthingite Martin Fairbrother is also a director and shareholder of Spirit FM, a station he helped launch in 1996.

Worthing Radio has enlisted the support of former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read, who now presents the breakfast show on Jazz FM.

5. WORTH FM Worth FM would broadcast from the Dome cinema on Worthing seafront.

It is sponsoring Worthing FC this season and has pledged live coverage, via Cable Radio, of all of the team's home matches.

The deal was launched at last month's friendly with Brighton and Hove Albion.

Stars attending included former Chelsea player Peter Osgood and actor Ray Winstone.

Daytime on Worth FM/Cable Radio would feature personality-based programmes providing global and regional information with a wide range of music spanning the past four decades.

In addition to the public service aspect of its programming, Worth FM wants to inject humour, wit and creativity.

The station said its music policy would be one of great diversity, appealing to a cross-section of ages, playing classic tracks from yesteryear along with the best music of today.

6. SPLASH FM Splash FM, named after the Worthing seafront landmark Splash Point, aims to target the relatively uncatered-for 30-plus audience.

It says local news, events and sports coverage would make Splash FM a truly local station covering stories that matter to the town.

There are plans for news on the hour and half-hour and conversation featuring the town's wealth of characters.

In terms of music, the station says it has at least 8,000 tracks to choose from - so repetition wouldn't be a problem.

Director David Cunningham, who launched the town's hospital radio in 1986, has joined forces with Roy Stannard, ex-chairman of Worthing Hospital Radio, and former Radio 1 and 2 DJ David Hamilton, who hosts shows for Classic Gold Network and National Digital Service PrimeTime Radio.