IT was more like a dunk than a splash when Blackpool's newest radio station prepared to take to the airwaves again.

Splash FM, which went down a storm when it broadcast for four weeks during the summer, has been granted another temporary licence and to promote its next 28-day stint on the radio, staff and management took to the ring of the Tower Circus.

The idea had been to paddle and splash about for a photocall, but the hydraulics which lower the stage into the water weren't working properly and they all ended up waist-deep in water.

"It was very funny at the time," said Peter Clark, sales, marketing and media manager.

"The floor was supposed to slow down but it didn't and we all ended up soaked."

Splash FM will start broadcasting 24 hours a day on December 15, again from the West Coast Rock Cafe in Abingdon Street, and a celebrity switch-on party will be held at the Palace nightclub on December 14.

The station is still chasing that elusive permanent licence as Mr Clark explains: "We are allowed a temporary licence every four months so we'll keep applying for those until a permanent one becomes available.

"The first time Splash FM went on air we had 3,000 faxes and communications from people who said they wanted to hear more so we are off to a good start.

He added that this time the station would be presented in a more professional way.

"We had a few teething problems last time but it proved a learning curve for us," he said.

"By putting on a better show this time hopefully we can run a successful commercial station and do it professionally."

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