SUFFOLK: Popular local radio station Heart FM is set to widen its audience to cover the entire East Anglia region from next week.

But listeners in the Ipswich area will be encouraged to hear a familiar voice over the airwaves, despite the station broadcasting from across the border in Norfolk.

In June it was announced that Heart Ipswich would merge with Heart Norwich as part of plans to reduce the national network of stations from 33 to 16.

Heart East Anglia starts transmitting on Monday – and one of the first presenters on the station’s new schedule is Rob Chandler.

Known to Ipswich Town fans as the voice of Portman Road, Rob has became renowned for whipping up the crowd before and during home matches.

As well as being pitch-side announcer for the Tractor Boys, Rob has for the last two years hosted a popular Saturday morning show on Radio Suffolk alongside Ipswich Town legend Kevin Beattie. But from Monday he’ll be taking over the breakfast slot in Norwich – and he’s no stranger to the city, having moved from Radio Orwell in 1984 to work for Radio Broadland and then Heart Norwich.

Rob said: “I’m sad to be leaving Radio Suffolk but I’m excited to broadcasting back to my home county. Heart will be doubling its audience overnight, and I have the advantage of knowing the area and of people from the area knowing me.”

Rob’s new show will go out weekdays from 6am to 10am.