A NORTH-EAST city's mayor and mayoress were among the first to give a live interview when Durham Local Radio (DLR) took to the airwaves yesterday.

The station, which broadcasts on 107FM, is taking part in its second month-long-trial.

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 will broadcast 24-hours-a-day and is temporarily based in a mobile studio in the Sainsbury's car park at the Arnison Centre, Pity Me.

If granted the commercial licence, the station will move to permanent premises.

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

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

Coun Gibbon welcomed the prospect of a permanent local radio station for Durham.

He also took the opportunity to promote his chosen charity, the Durham Volunteer Bureau.

Mr Evans told them how DLR intended to be a local station, featuring local presenters, local news and information.

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 in touch with DLR should call 0191-375 7757.