A TOWN'S Mayor and Mayoress were among the first to give a live interview when Durham Local Radio (DLR) took to the airwaves this week.

The station which broadcasts on 107 FM is taking part in its second month-long-trial and was soon back in the swing of things.

The station, which is being backed by Newsquest North-East, publishers of The Northern Echo and the Advertiser series, hopes to win the permanent commercial licence to serve the city.

The station, which will broadcast 24 hours a day is temporarily based in a mobile studio parked in the Sainsbury's store car park at the Arnison Centre, Pity Me.

If granted the commercial licence the station will move into permanent premises.

Among the first guests to visit the studio were the Mayor and Mayoress of Durham, Coun Raymond Gibbon and his wife Margaret.

After being welcomed by programme director Hugh Evans and DLR director Graham Courtney, the City's first citizens agreed to take part in a live interview.

And Durham's 401st mayor and his wife were soon broadcasting their views on their beloved city in particular and the north east in general."There is nowhere any better,'' said the Mayor.

The Mayor also welcomed the prospect of a permanent local radio station for Durham.

"There is so much going on here,'' said the Mayor, who also took the opportunity to promote his chosen charity the Durham Volunteer Bureau.

Mr Evans told the civic dignitaries how DLR intended to a be a truly local station featuring local presenters, local news and information.

The station, would, he said, be giving 100 per cent support to organisations in the area and urged everyone to let DLR know of anything that was happening.

The other station, which is in contention for the commercial licence is Durham FM, linked to Sunderland's Sun FM and Darlington's Alpha stations and has already carried out its two trial broadcasts.

Anyone wanting to get int touch with DLR should ring (0191) 3757757.