VOLUNTEERS from a hospital radio station have had a welcome cash boost to kit out their studio with the latest in technology.

Auckland Radio, which broadcasts to patients at Bishop Auckland and Weardale Community Hospital, has received a £3,095 grant from Awards For All to buy three computers, editing software and a digital camera.

The funding will also mean that the radio station can have independent Internet access and broadband.

Lindsay McElhone, acting chairwoman of Auckland Radio, said it would be the first time that the station had had new computers.

She said: "Everything that we have has been donated so the computers we have at the moment are quite old and not particularly the best. Having new computers means that everything will be working in top form and we can get on with updating our website.''

The station has also recently received two grants from Durham County Foundation.

One grant for £3,000 has enabled the volunteers to purchase IRN News software, which means the latest news can be broadcast to patients.

It will also pay for the installation of a satellite to receive information from IRN.

A grant for £1,350 paid for ten volunteers to attend a national conference and awards dinner.