Online TV station The Country Channel has been officially switched on at its headquarters in Chipping Norton.

Witney MP and Conservative leader David Cameron was invited to turn on the web-based channel, which is thought to be the first Internet TV station of its kind.

The channel is aimed at viewers who have an interest in countryside matters and runs programmes on about 40 different subjects.

Mr Cameron said: "This is a great resource for people who live in the country, with a huge range of different interests from farming to conservation, and country sports to nature."

The official switch-on came a month after the channel was launched for a preview. During the trial, the website received more than 4,000 hits and 16,000 page impressions.

Channel chairman Paul Aitken, 55, based in Chipping Norton and managing director of TV production company VPTV, said: "The interest has been fantastic, from people wanting to subscribe to those wanting to support it as well."

Broadband users can log on at www.countrychannel.tv and dial-up users at www.countrychannel.co.uk