The Isle of Man can expect 'vastly inferior' television coverage following the decision to merge the Border and Tyne Tees regions.

That's the verdict of Border presenter Adam Powell.

The United Kingdom's communications regulator Ofcom announced the decision today, as part of a cost-cutting exercise which ITV says will save more than ?40 million a year.

Border's flagship news programme Lookaround is going to be halved in length, which means there will be less opportunity to see the Island's news televised.

Mr Powell believes the public have been severely let down and told Manx Radio: "The public have written in their tens of thousands to protest against this merger. It's been a campaign which has taken us all over the region, to the Isle of Man, right across the place, and people have written in their tens of thousands urging Ofcom to think again, not to allow this merger to go ahead and to allow Border to retain its autonomy.

"Quite frankly Ofcom have shown utter contempt to the public because they have ignored them. They have allowed this merger to go through and Ofcom should be ashamed of themselves."