LIVERPOOL radio station City Talk is to release its four main daytime presenters.

The city’s newest station has told breakfast show presenter Duncan Barkes, Roy Basnett, Will Batchelor, and drive time presenter Peter McDowall that their contracts will end in January.

The presenters’ producers are also affected by the decision at the St John’s Tower station, where 67 people work.

It is understood Pete Price will continue his late-night show and live sports coverage will be unaffected.

The latest round of cuts at the station, which launched in early 2008, comes after big-name presenters like Dean Sullivan were let go early this year.

A spokesman for the station said: “City Talk 105.9 is proposing to introduce additional news, sport and information programming to its existing format.

“This local content will be created by the award-winning City newsduncan barkes teams in Liverpool and will stay within the station's format guidelines.

“City Talk has spoken to several daytime presenters and producers affected by this proposal and will make no further comment until the new schedule is announced in due course.” City Talk has been hard hit by the recession as fewer advertisers are approaching newly-established stations.

The latest Radio Joint Audience Research (RAJAR) reveals the station gets 49,000 listeners a week, with a listener reach of 3%.