Radio pips moving after 79 years

The radio signal used to set the UK's clocks is to move from Rugby where it has been transmitted since 1927.

The nation's time signal, which is used to keep the well-known pips on time, is being relocated to Anthorn in Cumbria from next year.

The service, which uses atomic clocks, has come from a radio station near Hillmorton for nearly 80 years.

National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is switching contracts from BT, which owns the Rugby site, to VT Communications.

The time signal is accurate to within 1000th of a second of Universal Time and supports a wide range of services including emergency 999 communications, train companies, cash machines and mobile phone billing systems.

'Keeps world working'

The signal, often referred to as "The time from Rugby", will in future be known as "The Time from NPL".

NPL has been responsible for the accurate time signal from Rugby since 1950 and will make the switch in April 2007.

The switchover will take place following a three-month test period at the beginning of next year. NPL said most users need take no action to continue receiving the signal.

NPL managing director, Steve McQuillan, said: "Maintaining accurate time is essential to keeping the modern world working.

"Most people only need time to be accurate to within a few seconds or even minutes, but global navigation systems, the internet, email, television, power industry, transport, and financial systems are just some of the industries that depend on very accurate time to operate.

"We regularly notify those we know who may be affected by our testing and we'll be happy to add any other users to our email list if they get in touch."

The signal's transmission is linked to NPL's atomic clocks at Teddington in South West London.