Tania Furber in Fury over Essex FM radio publicity stunt

THE Thurrock woman who led protests after Essex FM DJS were 'suspended' has spoken of her anger after finding out it was all a publicity stunt.

Now a probe has been launched by the radio station's owners over the “foolish” stunt.

Breakfast show DJs Martin Day and Su Harrison were off air for three days this week after the station announced their suspension for making inappropriate comments.

Yesterday, bosses at Global Radio, which owns Essex FM, said the move was a publicity stunt and apologised to listeners.

The news came as BBC Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas quit following the controversy surrounding messages left on actor Andrew Sachs’s answering machine by presenters Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross. Brand, who is from Grays, quit the station on Wednesday and Ross is suspended for 12 weeks.

A statement from Global Radio, owners of Essex FM, said: “Essex FM appears to have undertaken an unauthorised publicity stunt, which involved the station’s breakfast show.

“Clearly this was a foolish attempt to mislead the public and we apologise to listeners. Global Radio is holding an inquiry and will take the appropriate action.”

The admission comes the day after the station’s programme director, Chris Cotton, said the decision to take the duo off air was not a publicity stunt, adding that it would be a “risky” thing to do.

Fans of the show who organised protests and internet support campaigns for the presenters were furious they had been tricked.

Tania Furber, 32, of Bellmaine Avenue, Corringham, who organised a protest outside the radio station’s offices in Chelmsford on Tuesday, said: “It’s disgusting, I’m disgusted.

“It makes a mockery of the fans. It’s unfair and not a nice thing to do.

“I probably won’t be listening any more.”