A RADIO station which has grown its audience by broadcasting online from a second world war bunker will soon be hitting the airwaves across north Suffolk.

A RADIO station which has grown its audience by broadcasting online from a second world war bunker will soon be hitting the airwaves across north Suffolk.

Blyth Valley Radio, which is based in a converted bunker in the grounds of St Felix School at Reydon, near Southwold, has been awarded an FM licence by Ofcom and volunteers are hoping to be able to reach radios by early July.

The station launched online in June last year and has already expanded its broadcasting hours, which are filled with music, lively debate and local interest and history features.

Once it is on FM, the station should be able to broadcast across the Blyth Valley, north to Lowestoft, south to Aldeburgh and inland as far as Harleston.

Norman Jackson, the station's deputy chairman, said that Ofcom had now started test transmissions and that the station should be on FM on July 4.

Mr Jackson said: 'At the moment we have about 30 volunteers but we will need a lot more people to cover our new range. Anybody who wants to get involved in any way will be very welcome, whether they are budding presenters or willing technicians.'

Anyone who wants to get involved with the station should email studio@bvcr.co.uk or telephone 01502 723900.