Shipley Festival got off to an early start today with the first broadcast by its own radio station.

Early risers tuned to 106.2FM could heard the station begin its inaugural broadcast from Shipley centre this morning with the town's double-act answer to Radio One's Zoe Ball and Virgin's ginger whinger Chris Evans.

And breakfast DJs Bob Parker, better known as Shipley's town centre manager, and Ray Garland, Bradford City's half-time announcer, believe they will give their more famous rivals a run for their money on Shipley Community Radio.

Bob Parker, said: "We're looking at this as a long-term project and there is still plenty of opportunity to get involved."

Two of the DJs going on air, sixth-formers Vanessa Cross and Joelle Cleveland, both 17, have even been given the thumbs-up by BBC DJ John Peel who wished the girls good luck this week in his Radio Times column.

The station will make be making its inaugural first ten days of broadcasts from the former Spencer and Hill shop in Wellcroft.

As well as the radio station a host of other events have been lined up to take place in the festival's two weeks. Tomorrow fire-breathing entertainer Daryll Hacket will set the first full festival day off with a bang with a crazy mix of unicycling and juggling from 11am in Market Square.

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