YOUNGSTERS from Darwen Vale High School will become international DJs when their radio station broadcasts across the world.

The pupils launch their radio station on the internet for a week in July, and listeners are expected to tune in from as far as Australia and South America. They will also be filmed for their own DVD which will follow the project from planning stage to final broadcasts.

DVR fm, the Voice of Darwen Vale High School, is in its fourth year, and this year promises more music, live chat, news and shows. Damon Welsh, e-learning manager at the school, said: "This year we will be putting it out on the internet and are also planning the DVD."

The radio, which has previously won local and regional praise, will run from July 5 to 9 at Darwen Vale from 8am to 6pm, featuring five two-hour shows per day. Local businesses and organisations are invited to sponsor the station or a programme, as well as place advertisements.

The youngsters will present three shows per day - Breakfast Bonanza, Afternoon Affair and Drive Time - as well as hourly news bulletins, weather, traffic and travel and information slots. They are also hoping to arrange interviews with important local figures, TV and radio personalities and sportsmen and women.

Last year, Coun Bill Taylor, leader of the Blackburn with Darwen Council, was interviewed as well as West Indies cricketer Keith Temple, who coaches at Darwen Cricket Club.

This is the second year the radio broadcasts will have reached the other side of the world and pupils are hoping to hear back from listeners from various countries.