Radio 4 star launches Southwold radio station

A veteran broadcaster presented a special show today to mark a community radio station's launch on to the airwaves of north Suffolk.Radio 4 star Libby Purves was at the official launch of Blyth Valley Radio's new FM station, Blyth105 FM, at the station's studio at St Felix School, near Southwold.

A veteran broadcaster presented a special show today to mark a community radio station's launch on to the airwaves of north Suffolk.

Radio 4 star Libby Purves was at the official launch of Blyth Valley Radio's new FM station, Blyth105 FM, at the station's studio at St Felix School, near Southwold.

The station was set up online in June last year and has grown its audience by broadcasting over the internet from a second world war bunker in the school's grounds.

On Saturday, Blyth105 FM hit the airwaves for the first time, with Ms Purves broadcasting from the bunker at midday. The station will now be broadcasting a mix of music, news and local interest and history features, seven days a week from 12pm to 5pm around Southwold, Walberswick, Reydon, Wrentham and Wangford.

Station committee member Amanda Humphry said that the launch marked the culmination of two years of hard work for all the station's volunteers.

She said: 'We are all absolutely thrilled that we have achieved our aim of providing a community radio station for the Blyth valley. We feel that all he hard work has been worth it and we are very grateful to everyone who has supported us.'

The launch day also gave listeners a chance to have a look around the unusual studio and meet some of the volunteer presenters.