WATCH out Sarah Cox - the pupils of Ivy Bank High School are now on the airwaves in one of the first projects of its kind in the country.

The new radio station, IBFM was launched at the Byron Street school in Burnley with a live broadcast by students and a performance from the school's girl band, Depth.

Teachers are overseeing the project, but the broadcasts are solely in the hands of the pupils.

The school was one of the first in England to run its own commercial radio station with sponsorship from EMI Music Foundation, HSBC Bank, Lancashire County Council Commercial Services, EBP, Baxi and Opus Pro Audio.

The voice of Ivy Bank takes to the airwaves every morning and lunchtime with presenters broadcasting the latest releases and news from around the school to their fellow friends.

Development officer Michael Watson has been looking forward to the students hitting the airwaves.

He said: "It is a tremendous boost for our students.

"It will be an experience they will remember for a long time.

"It is a superb asset for the school and will give our students the full range of skills from presenting, news-reading, production, editing, drama and documentary writing - plus everything in between.

"The studio cost £10,000 and we are very grateful to our sponsors.

"Without their support none of this would have been possible."

In the school's previous broadcasts the pupils have interviewed top names including Tony Blair's press secretary Alastair Campbell who, as a Clarets fan, told students that his favourite player of all time was Leighton James.

They have also interviewed TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, author and journalist Melvyn Bragg and crazy children's TV presenter Timmy Mallett.

Students at the school got their first taste of presenting in October 1997.

Then in May 1999 Ivy Bank got the first of three temporary licenses to broadcast from 8am to 7pm.