VIEWERS in the North West have been reminded they have less than three months to go digital before the long-awaited switchover.

Analogue signals will begin to be switched over in the Granada region on November 4, with the total switch-off planned to be completed on December 2.

And with just weeks to go, officials say 96 per cent of viewers have already gone digital.

John Askew, who is leading the North West’s switchover, said: “We don’t think there are many people who have not already switched to digital.

“There are already millions who have transferred, either through Sky, Freesat or Freeview.

“Through experience, those four per cent who are yet to switch tend to be older people or people who are not really bothered about getting extra channels.

“Our advice to those people is, if they are happy with their existing TV, just buy a set-top box to go with it.”

He urged people who are still using analogue equipment to get advice from friends, relatives and electronics retailers.

However, he stressed only a small number of people are now without digital TV.

“Freeview has been available for a long time now, since about 2002, and Sky has been digital for even longer than that,” added Mr Askew.

On November 4, the BBC2 analogue signal for the Granada region, which is controlled by masts at Winter Hill, will be switched off.

However, viewers will then have another four weeks before the rest of the analogue channels are axed on December 2.

Mr Askew said the staggered switch had been designed so viewers do not end up “completely without TV overnight”.

The North West follows the Border and West Country regions, as well as some parts of Wales, in the digital switchover.

For more help and advice on going digital visit www.digitaluk.co.uk or call 08456 505050.