A former branch of the Halifax is being transformed into a radio studio as Shipley prepares to hit the airwaves.

And it is hoped Shipley Community Radio will become a permanent fixture, eventually broadcasting to the town full-time.

SCR - run by a steering group and Bradford Community Broadcasting (BCB) - will be on air throughout this year's Shipley Festival which runs from May 12 to 21.

A team of presenters and technicians will ensure the station broadcasts its mixture of music, chat and special features round-the-clock over the ten days but there is still time for others to get involved.

Help is needed with everything from presenting to answering the phones, with training available.

Steering group member Kath Quinn, the community economic development worker at Windhill Community Centre who will host her own lunchtime current affairs slot, said: "We broadcast during the Shipley Festival last year and it was a big success.

"We want to build on that and hope it will raise the profile of Shipley and make people feel good about living and working in the town. The long-term plan is to have a permanent studio in Shipley to offer people training.

"At the moment the license costs £180 a day which is too much for more than a short broadcast but hopefully it will come down in the future and eventually we'd like to go on air full-time.''

Ideas for broadcasts and firms wishing to sponsor the venture - set to cost a minimum of £3,000 - or donate prizes for competitions are also being sought with local bands invited to perform live on air or submit demo tapes.

Meanwhile SCR, which will broadcast on 106.2FM, is appealing for organisations, shops and businesses to compile lists of their top ten records. Representatives will be invited to the studio to talk listeners through their choices during Desert Island Discs-style slots.

Volunteers are now turning the former Halifax premises in Well Croft, donated for the broadcast by the bank, into a studio. The broadcast will be launched on May 12 by breakfast show presenters Bob Parker, Shipley town centre manager, and Bradford Council cleansing officer Ray Garland.

Anyone wanting to get involved with SCR should call Kath Quinn on 01274 588831 or Joanna Williams or John Gill at BCB on 01274 771677.

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