The BBC Asian Network is set to be handed extra funding to hire extra staff to improve the station output.

The approval has come from BBC director general, Mark Thompson after the station lost more than 50,000 listeners over the past year - more than any other BBC digital network.

From next year it will broadcast live music events and undertake a major marketing campaign

The radio service will increase staff numbers and get a radical programming shake-up, with extra funding for a three new executive posts and more than a dozen new editorial positions.

The flagship breakfast programme will enjoy the biggest staff increase, with new posts created for an assistant editor, two senior broadcast journalists, two broadcast journalists and a broadcast assistant.

The network, which started as a national digital station in 2002, will also air a new documentary strand starting on Monday evenings from January.