Wayland Radio hits the air waves

Dominic Chessum'Good morning. You are listening to the all new 107.3fm Wayland Radio. Welcome to The Breakfast Show!'With those words DJ David Hatherly kicked off a new era in Norfolk broadcasting this morning.Dominic Chessum

'Good morning. You are listening to the all new 107.3fm Wayland Radio. Welcome to The Breakfast Show!'

With those words DJ David Hatherly kicked off a new era in Norfolk broadcasting this morning.

At 7am Wayland Radio, which broadcasts to Watton, Swaffham and the surrounding villages, went live.

The community radio station, based in converted stables at Ashill, will now be on air day in and day out.

For station manager Mr Hatherly seeing the red studio light switch on was a big moment.

After a series of temporary broadcasts over the past three years being able to broadcast full time is the culmination of months of hard work after Wayland Radio was granted a licence by Ofcom in February.

Mr Hatherly said: 'It is amazing and it is hard to believe that we do not have to switch off again.

'This is really thanks to the hard work of the team and the support we have had from the community, the local council and other agencies.'

The first track to be played on the station was the full seven minute version of Layla by Derek and the Dominoes.

'It had to be something that we could play air guitar to,' continued Mr Hatherly.

And within an hour of going on air the phones were ringing and emails being sent from listeners voicing their support.

'We have had some splendid messages coming in,' he continued, 'in particular people at BBC Radio Norfolk who have been listening online.'

To get in touch with the station call 01760 441161 or e-mail studio@waylandradio.com