POPULAR radio presenters John Dalziel and Roisin Gibbons have been sacked from the Mercia breakfast show for fixing a competition.
Listeners were asked to text in to the studio on Wednesday morning for a chance to win a Sure for Women pampering pack.
When a technical problem occurred which blocked messages getting through, the presenters found someone to pose as a winner instead of delaying the competition.
Dave Fisher, managing director of Mercia, said: "This was a breach of Ofcom regulations and something John and Roisin knew they shouldn't have done.
"Obviously it is really important we are honest with our listeners and they can trust us to play fair.
"So unfortunately, although I think they are both tremendous broadcasters, we had to terminate the contracts of John and Roisin.
"We announced an apology on air this morning which has been going out every hour after the news."
Everyone who entered the competition was put into a new draw and a winner awarded the prize.
Lee Stone is standing in for the breakfast show until new presenters can be found.
