The Kent Messenger Group has bought two more radio stations - almost doubling its broadcasting reach.

The group has reached agreement with GWR Radio Ltd to purchase, for an undisclosed sum, the Mercury FM operations at Medway and Tonbridge.

The new stations will become part of KM Radio Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Kent Messenger Group, and almost double its reach to more than 146,000 listeners a week.

The group already owns Neptune Radio 96.4FM, 106.8FM (Folkestone and Dover), TLR 107.2FM (Thanet) and CTFM 106FM (Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable).

David Lewis, managing director of the Kent Messenger Group, said: "We are delighted to welcome Mercury FM into our family of local radio stations.

"The development of locally focused stations is a key part of our media strategy.

"Each of our stations is a vital part of its community. The Mercury stations will be re-branded and promoted strongly.

"Since CTFM, TLR and Neptune came under KM Radio ownership, listener figures have increased and we look forward to offering the same quality service and opportunities to our new listeners and advertisers in Medway, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells."

The frequencies of the newly acquired stations are: Mercury Medway 107.9FM and Mercury Tonbridge 96.2FM.

As with its earlier radio acquisitions, the company will have to satisfy a public interest test by the Radio Authority.

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