HOSPITAL radio volunteers embarked on a marathon broadcasting challenge yesterday, as they bid to stay live on the air for 48 hours.

The team at Bishop Auckland Hospital Radio were inundated with hundreds of requests from patients as they launched the mammoth broadcast at 9am.

Wear Valley District Council chairman Councillor Wilf Dobinson opened the event and toured the wards collecting requests.

Money raised from the event will go towards buying new equipment for when the station moves into the new Bishop Auckland hospital.

Volunteer Craig Robinson said: "We need to raise between £17,000 to £20,000 because the equipment we have will not be compatible when we move to the new hospital.''

Craig and fellow volunteer Lee Brownson said they hoped the event would raise the profile of the hospital radio station, as well as being a fun event for the patients and staff.

About 12 volunteers are broadcasting in a temporary mobile building after their former workplace was demolished to make way for the new hospital.

They are looking to move into new accommodation in the hospital next April.

The national president of the Hospital Radio Association, June Snowdon, is travelling from Cambridgeshire to speak live on the show and live link-ups with other radio stations are also planned.

People from all over the world can tune into the broadcast with live Internet links showing the team at work.

The station is also looking for volunteers. Anyone interested can contact Mr Robinson on (01388) 454000 ext 2426. The website is www.aucklandradio.com