The contract to run the national Traffic Radio station has been awarded to Global Traffic Network UK.

The 24-hour service carries spoken-word traffic information on DAB and the internet and has been operated by Trafficlink since its launch last year.

GTN already runs traffic services in Canada and Australia and this week announced it would be taking over Traffic Radio from July 1.

The company is working with digital radio specialists Folder Media and technology experts All In Media on the publicly-funded project. As well as the existing broadcasts on DAB and the internet, the firm will make use of short-term FM and AM broadcasting in some areas.

Managing director Paul Hutton said: "Traffic Radio is a significant service for travellers across England and something which is very important to the Highways Agency. We are thrilled to have been chosen to run this service having proved ourselves in a tough tender process to be the best option when considering quality, expertise and cost.

"We have put together the best possible team for this ground-breaking project. Matt Deegan at Folder and Chris Gould at AIM have not only both worked on very similar projects before, but are also known across the industry for being great innovators and I know they have some fantastic ideas for the project throughout the contract period."

Deegan said: "We're very excited to be managing the broadcast of Traffic Radio, this is a truly cross-platform radio station that will reach listeners on DAB Digital Radio, Online and on FM and AM at traffic hotspots. It's a pleasure to be working with GTN, who, like us, are true radio people."