A Blackbird Leys-based radio station is bidding to hit the airwaves full-time and is calling on its listeners to help secure a permanent licence.

OX4 FM, based at Jubilee Hall in Sorrel Road, operates for one month a year on a Restricted Service Licence (RSL) granted by radio regulator Ofcom.

The station, which is run by volunteers, broadcasts to 40,000 homes and businesses in the East Oxford, Cowley, Rose Hill, Blackbird Leys, Wood Farm and Iffley areas of Oxford.

It was last on air in March and the station is now lodging an application with Ofcom to have a permanent licence granted and wants listeners to write letters of support.

Dan Gill, the 39-year-old presenter of the drive time show, said: “We have done three RSL broadcasts for the past three years now. They have always been popular and attracted lots of listeners and we want to make it a permanent thing.

“You have to do at least two RSL broadcasts before you can apply for the permanent licence, and the window for applications for permanent licences is now open. We are getting our forms together, but what we want is for people to write to us about how they feel about the station, what they listen to, why they like us, so that we can send them off with the application.”

The temporary RSL for a one month broadcast costs £8,000. A permanent licence would cost around £850 per year, with a one-off fee of £600 to make the application. Mr Gill thought OX4 FM had an important role to play in the communities of its listeners.

“This is a community station and we like to give people a voice. We are a bit different from commercial radio stations, with a much smaller scale focus on issues,” he said.

“We have also trained up a lot of people over the past three years, of all ages, and given people the opportunity to get involved by volunteering their time.”

The DJ said the station was also trying to find new premises to broadcast from, after moving back to Jubilee Hall from the Cowley Community Centre in Barn’s Road, which was condemned in April by fire safety experts.

He said: “We only have one room in Jubilee Hall, so if there is anyone out there that could help us then we would like to hear from them.”

Letters of support can be sent to OX4 FM, Jubilee Hall, Sorrel Road, Blackbird Leys, or e-mail ox4radio@gmail.com