An Oxford radio station has been temporarily shut down after operating illegally for the past two years.

Oxide, an Internet-based station run by Oxford University Student Union (OUSU), shut down two weeks ago as it was not licensed to play music.

The station now faces a fundraising drive to pay back the hundreds of pounds in royalties it owes ahead of a scheduled relaunch in October.

Station manager Katie Traxton said: "It is no longer running for this term, but it will be up and running in the first week in October."

Miss Traxton, a Hertford College student, said the closure was actually "a blessing in disguise" as it would allow the station to upgrade its equipment.

OUSU said: "The Oxide committee, in conjunction with Oxford Student Services Ltd, will be using the intervening time to examine the structures and appointments processess of the station. As part of the review we will be ensuring that Oxide complies with all licensing and other relevant legislation.

"The temporary cessation of broadcasting gives the committee an opportunity to cement the structural changes which have been made already this year with a view to providing a better, more professional station in the future."

Rich Hardiman, OUSU vice-president responsible for the station, said: "I have only known about the licence situation being deficient for just under a week.

"Without wishing to cast the puppy-dog eyes, there is a lot to be done during the year.

"The problems we have had during the year have been dealt with on a case-by-case basis."

To operate an online radio station, two licences are needed to make sure music writers and performers are paid for the use of their material.

In Oxide's case the two licences, from PPL and the MCPS/PRS Alliance, would have cost about £200 a year.

A PPL spokesman said: "All services that include PPL members' repertoire in an online radio broadcast legally require a licence. Oxide Radio are currently unlicensed by PPL and we have therefore been in discussion with the service to resolve this matter."

The MCPS/PRS Alliance declined to comment