THERE was a bit of star-power on hand to mark the 52nd anniversary of the Radio Horton and the opening of a new studio on Sunday

Countryfile host John Craven joined many of the station’s presenters past and present to mark the special occasion at Horton Hospital in Banbury.

The new studio will allow the station, which broadcasts 24 hours a day to patients, to easily pre-record shows while also broadcasting live.

Mr Craven, who has presented BBC programmes Blue Peter and Newsround during his long career, was also named the station’s new honorary president.

The families of Radio Horton founders Ted Hanson and Graham Wilton - who the studios are named after - were also there to see the new space officially opened.

Speaking about his new role, Mr Craven said: "I was very surprised to be asked actually. I've done some interviews with them over the years and I know what a great service they provide.

"The station is very important because you get to hear that friendly voice.

"What is good as well is how professional they sound. When people hear them they are amazed.

"It is very much a family station so to have the relatives here of the people who first broadcasted is fantastic."

When cutting the ribbon to open the new studio, Mr Craven added that he was "very proud and honoured to be Radio Horton’s new president."

As well as the studio opening, there were long service awards given out to Radio Horton presenters and a new magazine for the station was also launched.

Mr Wilton's son Jeremy was also named as the station's vice-president.

The station's chairman Kevin Matthews said: "It's taken a lot of time to get this studio ready. It means that when the other one needs a bit of maintenance we can go live with the new one.

"John was the obvious choice to be president. He is someone local involved in broadcasting and has been very supportive of us in the past.

"We invited the families down today because we wanted them to see what was created all those years ago."

Presenter and grandmother Elizabeth MacLeod, who lives in Hook Norton but previously served on Cherwell District Council, said: "I had wanted to do something like this before I went to university but back then local radio was not as well known.

"The station is important because when you are in bed you have a lot of time to think, and when I play music I ask the patients what they want me to play."