THE north end of the Fylde Coast could soon have its own local radio station.

A group is being set up to bid for a new not-for-profit community radio service, to be known as North Fylde Community Radio.

The new office of communications, Ofcom, is to begin issuing licences for community stations, which can broadcast over no more than five kilometres and must not compete directly with the BBC or commercial radio.

Organisers hope the station could be up and running by November.

Promoting the scheme is local councillor, Stephen Bate, who is already broadcasting an internet pilot service, fyfm.net.

Cllr Bate said: "The starting point for our plans is that we aim to serve an audience that local commercial radio does not seek to serve. That is the over-50 audience and, possibly, with a mostly talk based program service.

"A station based in Thornton Cleveleys, would have a very high concentration of that age group within a five kilometre range. It would also reach virtually all of Fleetwood to the north, south to Bispham and a good part of Carleton and Poulton to the East.

"There are many people in North Fylde that have interesting, and often entertaining things to say.

"The new radio service must feature those people, it must encourage them to take part in our programs. The service could have many volunteers assisting in many activities.

"If Fylde Coast people want to listen, then the service will succeed, financially and in terms of social gain. If a small group of people dominate the air time with boring but well intentioned lectures, it will all be a failure."

Community stations are normally funded 50 per cent by sponsorship and advertising, with the rest raised through fund-raising.

Anyone interested in helping the new radio station should contact Cllr Bate via e-mail at s.bate@blueyonder.co.uk