Xfm is to begin broadcasting in Manchester on Wednesday, 15th March, it has been announced..

Xfm, which plays modern rock, dance and more specialist alternative music in the evenings, will launch in the city on 97.7FM. The news follows the closure of The Storm DAB digital radio brand. The Storm is due to be phased out on the three remaining digital radio multiplexes on which it is still carried - in Wolverhampton, Bristol and London.

According to the terms of each multiplex licence award, The Storm was to have carried local news, weather and travel within two years of the stations appearance on each DAB digital radio multiplex. However, Xfm UK, which has now replaced The Storm in most areas, will shortly be carrying local information.

Xfm UK's studios are based in London. Scotland's Xfm will supply a rock service on DAB multiplexes north of the border.