A COMMUNITY radio station which has had two successful trial broadcasts has been granted a permanent licence.

Radio Teesdale will be based in Barnard Castle, and hopes to start broadcasting on November 5.

The station's previous broadcasts operated under restricted service licences in March and November, 2004.

With the full-time licence, it will be able to increase the range of the signal and improve its quality.

Charlotte Stow, station marketing director, said: "Part of our application was that we wanted to broadcast Dale wide.

"The trial broadcasts only covered a four-mile radius, so one of the next things we have to do is commission an analysis of the Dales and find out the best place to put our transmitters."

As with all community stations, it will operate on a not-for-profit basis, with no more than 50 per cent of the station's funding coming from the private sector.

Any advertising that does feature on the station will only be in the form of programme sponsorship, which is one of several differences between community and commercial radio.

Mrs Stow said: "It is very much about providing a community service with the involvement of local people.

"As such, the station will be made by local people for local people.

"Everybody can be involved, and we have already had local charities and organisations taking part, schools and colleges, farmers, and even young offenders from Deerbolt Young Offenders' Institution."

The station plans to air 24 hours a day, with a mix of live shows, pre-recorded material and automated scheduling.

Anyone who would like to be involved can visit www. radioteesdale.co.uk or call (01833) 696750.