HUNTINGDON Community Radio celebrates its first anniversary today.

Monday, April 23, will mark one year since the local radio station started broadcasting permanently from its Saxongate headquarters in Huntingdon High Street. It had taken the station’s team of dedicated volunteers more than 16 years to win the vital license needed to air everyday in the Huntingdon area.

Station manager Bill Hensley said: “This past year has been beyond my wildest dreams; it’s gone so well.”

More than 100 volunteers keep the station going, which prides itself on its community focus and has 11,000 followers on microblogging site Twitter.

Bill said: “We are completely run by volunteers and we are a real community radio station – people pop in for a cup of tea and a chat and to talk about their problems.”

The station has six talk shows and has helped publicise more than 400 local groups so far. It even has its own soap, set in the fictional town of Huntsford.

The station is funded by sponsorship, grants, donations and revenue made from advertising local businesses and is a non-profit making organisation.

Bill added: “Running an organisation of more than 100 people is a job in itself but many of us work full time too. We have a great team of people working here, including Ray Godby, Tony Obee and David Brockman.

“I would also like to thank the Montagu Club in Hartford Road for supporting us with a number of fundraising events and the Papworth Trust, which is one of our many sponsors and a very, very good friend to HCRfm.”

INFORMATION: Tune in to Huntingdon Community Radio at 104fm or find out more at www.hcrfm.co.uk