A TEAM of volunteers are asking the public to support them in their goal of bringing Witney Radio to the airwaves.

Barry Clack and a group of about 25 others spent the four years up to 2015 promoting events and discussing issues on their online radio station.

Now, after receiving an FM licence from Ofcom last year, Mr Clack and his colleagues hope to take Witney Radio live this summer – but they need a helping hand from the community.

Mr Clack, 46, who lives just outside of Crawley, said: “This will be everybody’s radio station – not just one person’s.

“It’s really exciting. We hope people will tune in in the morning to hear the traffic and news of the day. Local radio is important to local people.

“We have decided to crowd fund because we need the community behind us and there’s no better way.”

As an online station, Witney Radio offered an eclectic mix of programmes and music and was always on the hunt for emerging bands from the area to showcase.

It has supported events including Witney Beer Festival, Witney Carnival and Witney Feast, and covered issues like flooding, major housing developments and elections.

In October 2015, Ofcom announced that FM applications were open and Witney Radio was able to make an application, finding it was successful the following year.

The station then stopped broadcasting so that preparations could be made for an FM launch.

The group now needs at least £4,000 to buy equipment by May. It is hoped that it will able to broadcast on its new frequency no later than June 1.

Dad-of-three Mr Clack, who will serve as the station's breakfast show DJ when it hits the airwaves, said: "By having a community station in West Oxfordshire it means its produced, presented and run by people in the area. These people know about local events and we're keen to get out there and do outside broadcasts."

The team has put together a series of rewards for those who help out with funding. Some of the rewards, like the chance to be the first voice on Witney Radio FM, are only offered once, and some others are limited availability, such as co-hosting a show.

To find out more about Witney Radio and to offer support to the station go to bit.ly/2lqsvqk