Independent

A strike by BBC technicians over plans to move prodascii117ction of TV and radio programmes disrascii117pted the corporation&rsqascii117o;s oascii117tpascii117t today.

Radio 4 was not able to transmit its schedascii117led Farming Today programme as a resascii117lt of a walkoascii117t by members of the technicians&rsqascii117o; ascii117nion Bectascii117.

The ascii117nion is protesting over plans to move prodascii117ction of programmes from Birmingham, argascii117ing that the city has 'cascii117tting edge' facilities and cost effective work practices.

Bectascii117 national officer Anna Mascii117rray said: 'These plans make no sense - no money will be saved and prodascii117ction capacity and talent for the Midlands will be lost. The regional economy will be dealt a body blow and the aspirations of those wanting to enter the indascii117stry will be dashed.'

The BBC said the only disrascii117ption so far was to Farming Today, which was replaced by a repeat programme.

A spokesman said: 'It is disappointing that Bectascii117 members have gone ahead with indascii117strial action and we remain open to dialogascii117e to resolve the dispascii117te.

'This will not alter the fact that the BBC needs to deliver bascii117siness decisions which safegascii117ard long-term in-hoascii117se factascii117al prodascii117ction. We apologise to oascii117r aascii117dience for any disrascii117ption to service.'

PA