The Argus reported on gremlins busy at BBC Southern Counties Radio ("Listeners get silent treatment", December 19).

As part of the BBC's programme of re-equipping its radio stations with up-to-date technology, we acquired a new computerised production and playout system to replace the antiquated equipment we had been using until recently.

Since the system went live on Saturday, December 8, it has worked a treat and there have been far fewer glitches than might have been expected.

The sharp-eared journalists at The Argus have noticed that we have twice had difficulties first thing in the morning that have resulted in the loss of our 6am news bulletin.

I am sorry for the inconvenience this has caused for our listeners and we are working to ensure that it doesn't happen again.

Could I put right the audience figures quoted in the article, which were out of date? The most recently published survey (RAJAR Quarter 3, 2001) gives us the rather more substantial figure of 331,000 listeners a week.

It's the highest yet achieved by BBC Southern Counties Radio. While we are proud to be one of the BBC's most successful stations, we are also very grateful to the listeners in Brighton and Hove and the rest of Sussex, who support us so loyally.

-Mike Hapgood, Managing Editor, BBC Southern Counties Radio