THOUSANDS of people across Brighton and Hove face television disruption for two weeks as BBC engineers upgrade the Whitehawk Hill transmitter.

But the company has pledged to send out specialists to alter aerials and retune sets in homes affected by the work.

The work will start this week to upgrade the transmitter so it can broadcast in digital.

Letters warning residents have been sent out to homes across the towns by TV Transmitter Adjustment, the company contracted by the BBC to carry out repair work on sets that have been affected.

The upgrade will alter the frequency and could affect the picture of the four terrestrial channels currently available to homes in the area, BBC1, BBC2, ITV and Channel 4.

A spokeswoman for TV Transmitter Adjustment said: "The work will go on for two weeks.

"We are not sure how many homes will be affected.

"But what we are saying is that if you experience a reduction in quality, we will put it right for free."

A BBC spokesman said: "Some of our transmitters are already digital.

"The work at Whitehawk is part of a programme to upgrade all our transmitters.

"Unfortunately, during the next two weeks, this may affect television pictures of the existing channels.

"That is why it is important we have a service to retune sets and alter aerials where needed."

The work is the latest in a number of engineering programmes that have affected viewers in the Brighton area.

On February 25 screens went blank for 12 hours while the Whitehawk transmitter was shut down at 7am to carry out repair work.

Since then hundreds of homes in the Kemp Town area have experienced poor quality on all four terrestrial channels.

A BBC spokesman said engineers were working round the clock to restore picture quality in affected homes.

There was another blackout during the early hours of March 4 for two hours when further repair work was carried out to the transmitter.

Keith Edwards, of Copse Hill Road, recently received a warning letter from TV Transmitter Adjustment explaining that the work could interfere with his viewing.

He said: "I'm not happy that my picture quality could be affected just so it can be upgraded to digital."

Walter Holmes, of Fernwood Rise said: "I think if they come and fix it for free then that is fine.

"I just hope they don't leave it too long."

Any residents who are experiencing problems with their picture should call TV Transmitter Adjustment on 0800 092 1049.

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