BBC Radio Durham was part off the BBC's original plan to have 9 sites where local radio experiments would be carried out, however, it is the only station to have fully closed down. It opened on 31st July 1968, but after the government restricted the BBC to 20 local radio stations, the corporation responded by ceasing its transmissions on 25th August 1972. Its resources were transferred to Carlisle were BBC Radio Cumbria was formed.
County Durham is now covered by BBC Radio Newcastle and BBC Tees. Former BBC News correspondent Kate Adie worked at Radio Durham, before joining BBC Radio Bristol in 1970.