A LOCAL authority has become the first in the country to have its proceedings broadcast directly on an on-line radio service.

Radio Ryedale, an award-winning, volunteer-run service in North Yorkshire, has started to air unedited sound recordings of meetings.

This month's meeting of Ryedale District Council's overview and scrutiny committee was the first to go on the site and more are to follow.

It is believed to be the first time that a UK council has enabled its public to listen to its proceedings in such a way.

The proceedings can be heard in sequence, or by choosing the relevant parts of the agenda.

"We are always looking for new ways to involve Ryedale residents in local democracy and the partnership with Radio Ryedale is another way of doing so," said the authority's director of resources Sue Redfern.

"I hope that the site is well used and members of the community will use it as a way of finding out about the way Ryedale District Council works."

The online radio station is headed by former TV director David Sumner who said: "Our objectives are to help the people of Ryedale get a better understanding of local government procedures.

"I also hope that the broadcasts will allow a two-way dialogue between the residents of Ryedale and the local authority."

He said: "This service compares with the occasions many years ago when cameras and microphones were allowed into General Election counts and party political conferences for the first time, and more recently, the live coverage of the House of Commons and the Scottish Parliament.

"In many ways this is even more innovative and effective."

Radio Ryedale was established three years ago and is manned by unpaid volunteers.