EAST Lancashire's first community radio station could be back on the air by summer if it can raise £6,000.

Broadcasting from St Mary's Parish Hall, Church Street, Clitheroe, Ribble Valley Radio proved an instant hit with listeners in a month's trial last December.

Other 30-day trials are planned for June and December, in hopes of gaining a permanent licence.

But with each trial licence costing £6,000, the station is busy fundraising to ensure it can crackle into life once again on 87.7FM.

Nearest community radio stations are Chorley FM, which was set up last year and now has a five-year broadcast licence, and Preston FM, which received a one-month licence last October.

Mark Evans, the station's treasurer, said it hoped to build on its initial success.

Mr Evans, 29, an ambulance technician, of Edisford Road, Clitheroe, said: "The response in December was wonderful. We did a straw poll in Clitheroe town centre and 44 per cent said they'd listened to us.

"In order to prove we can operate effectively, we have to do more trial broadcasts.

"We're holding an open day at the station on Saturday, April 15, to raise cash. We want local businesses book a stall or donate a raffle prize. We are a non-profit making organisation so every penny will go towards getting Ribble Valley's own station back on air."

Dubbed the Voice of the Valley', the station is one of hundreds to spring up across the country in the wake of a change in licensing rules last year, allowing a new, third tier of local radio stations.

The community or access stations are not licensed to make a profit or to compete with existing commercial stations.

Instead they should provide local news and information, as well as opportunities for members of the community.

Ribble Valley Radio is the brainchild of Clitheroe man Steve Suttie, 29, of Henthorn Road, who works for the Department for Work and Pensions, who wanted to set up a local station after helping start up others around the UK.

The shows provide community news on events and issues as well as music.

There are no adverts, but shows or parts of shows are sponsored by local firms. Anyone wanting to get involved can call Nicola Evans on 01200 425554.