A FUNDRAISING appeal has been launched by the organisers behind a community radio station.

Rossendale Radio Ltd said they need upwards of £25,000 funding to get the new station project off the ground.

They hope to get it on air this year after directors announced Ofcom had awarded them a license for a new station for the Valley last year.

Chairman of directors Peter Sweetmore said:” Now we have launched our fundraising appeal, we really need the good people of Rossendale to get behind our work and support us with not only donations, but whatever other way they can help us raise the money we need to create the station.

“We would be really grateful if all those who stated they support us on Facebook alone could donate, we would then have enough to secure the premises, ready to move on to our next phase.”

Once launched, the radio station would aim to keep residents updated with community news and events, as well as provide a range of different music.

Organisers hope the radio station will be live by winter 2018.

It is not the first time the station has served the community, with it airing between May 2010 and March 2012, until it handed its licence back to regulators after facing financial difficulty.

Currently, the radio station is in the process of trying to find a new premises to be based from.

Director Tony Nixon added: “We are breaking the required funding into three phases - and this is phase one.

“We need to raise £3,000 to secure premises (by way of a cash deposit), and also help towards funding the simple things like letterheads and business cards.

“Also this funding will help with our initial marketing campaigns to get the word out.”

To make a donation, people can visit their fundraising page https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/rossendale-community-radio-station-music-local#/