The final stage of digital TV switchover in the North west is on course to complete today.

The move extends digital terrestrial television (Freeview) coverage to all households served by the Winter Hill transmitter group, which includes Wirral.

All terrestrial TV signals were turned off shortly after midnight and a team of engineers worked through the night on the switch to all-digital TV services.

Analogue services will remain switched off permanently, allowing Freeview channels to be broadcast from dozens of local relay transmitters for the first time.

When the transition is completed by late afternoon, Freeview, BT Vision and Top Up TV equipment should be retuned in order to receive all the channels available.

A small proportion of Freeview viewers may not receive their preferred BBC or ITV services from today, or may find that Channel 4 has moved to a different button to be replaced by S4C.

This is because digital TV signals, like analogue ones, overlap between regions.

Digital UK provides advice on how to restore preferred regional services at digitaluk.co.uk/retuning or through the advice line 08456 50 50 50.

Viewers receiving their signal from relay transmitters will see the number of TV channels available free via an aerial increase from four to around 15.

Digital TVs or analogue sets converted with a digital box will be able to receive BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, Channel 4 and Five – plus additional digital channels, digital text and radio services.

Help and advice from Digital UK staff will be available on December 2 and December 3, at Birkenhead Active Age Centre, Whetstone Lane, from 11am to 6pm; and at Unit 7, Birkenhead Market, from 10am to 4pm.