Radio Hartlepool has been playing music and recorded messages for the past month after the Office of Communications (Ofcom) gave the go-ahead to use the 102.4FM frequency.

Following the successful trial period the station will go live on Tuesday, October 14, after Second World War veteran and Hartlepool resident Percy Fielding cuts the ribbon.

Managing director and programme controller Jason Anderson will then officially kick off the live programming at noon.

Hartlepool residents will be able to listen to the station, which will play music from the 1960s right through to contemporary chart music, 24 hours a day.

Mr Anderson said: "This is going to be a historic event and I think it is the biggest thing to happen in Hartlepool since the millennium.

"How many other towns our size have their own full-time radio stations?

"The launch is the result of months of hard work from our core team of 40 volunteers. The trial broadcast has gone very well. We have been getting a lot of good feedback so we very confident for the future."

Station bosses were handed a five-year community licence in October last year. But they had to wait for permission from Ofcom for the trial broadcast.The station, which has been supported by Hartlepool New Deal for Communities (NDC), will offer listeners a range of live programmes and community news.

As a member of NDC, Radio Hartlepool will support and raise awareness for all NDC projects and resident groups.

Mr Anderson said: "It seems so long ago since we first came up with the idea of creating a radio station in the town. But from the support of the NDC and the hard work of a team of dedicated staff we are now up and running.

"The work ethic of making this dream a reality has been epitomised by my college and NDC representative Peter Richardson, who has tirelessly given his all since this project began."

The station, which has two studios, is staffed by a team of 58 volunteers carrying out a range of roles including fundraisers, administration assistants and DJs.To fund the non-profit station, 50 per cent of the funding must come from grants, public bodies and donations and the other 50 per cent from businesses advertising.

For more information about Radio Hartlepool, call (01429) 275222 or email enquiries@radiohartlepool.co.uk.