FREEVIEW TV viewers in parts of Bristol, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire may need to retune their TV equipment to continue watching BBC programmes.

On April 4, Freeview channels are moving to new airwaves to allow for the future development of new mobile broadband services.

Following a decision by the UK Government, transmitters are being updated region by region as part of a major engineering programme being carried out between now and 2020.

The required changes at the Mendip transmitter will take place in the morning and are expected to be completed by 9am.

After this, any viewers receiving their TV signal from here who find they are missing BBC channels can retune.

Satellite and cable TV are not affected.

Around 760,000 homes are served by this transmitter.

Freeview will be running an information campaign to prepare people for the change, including advertising and on-screen messages.

Retuning should be straightforward and some TV equipment will retune automatically, but some older aerials may need to be replaced to continue receiving all channels.

Viewers may be eligible for free in-home support, including aerial work if needed.

Further updates at the Mendip transmitter group to move other channels will take place on June 5 and 19.

On both dates, work will be carried out overnight at the main transmitter and be completed by 6am. Viewers can then retune at any time after this.

Services from smaller local relays will be subject to disruption until late afternoon on these days. On-screen messages will remind people to retune ahead of the changes.

Anyone who needs advice, or who finds they are still missing services after retuning, can visit the Freeview website at www.freeview.co.uk/tvchanges or contact the Freeview Advice Line free on 0808 100 0288.

Further information is available online at www.freeview.co.uk/tvchanges