A COMMUNITY radio station in Okehampton is at threat of closure within the next month if it cannot gain more support from local people.

Moor FM was set up in the town by resident Dan Rose two years ago, with the aim of building the community spirit in Okehampton. The station is streamed on the internet and at its peak was averaging around 1,200 listeners from across the globe.

Radio shows were being delivered by local groups and individuals such as the Turning Tides Project, for people with learning disabilities, a local hairdresser and a band member with an Indie music show, as well as other contributors.

However, support for the station has dropped off both financially and physically and community involvement and local sponsorship is needed to get it back up and running properly again.

Dan, who works full time filming programmes for television, said: ‘We really need a bit of support from the Okehampton people. Basically we have run out of money. We think we’re doing a good job of supplying something that Okehampton hasn’t got elsewhere but we can’t afford to keep it going without help.

‘We’ve been running for two years and have a really good, diverse range of programmes. People listen from all over the world. At its peak we had around 1,200 unique listeners per session, per day. They are quite good numbers for a little station like ours.’

With a full time job, Dan needed a team of people to help him run the station, which he did have, but now he needs people to come forward again.

‘There are a few people that help but we need more people to get involved — that’s why it has lapsed a bit.

‘We’ve got about a month left to try to get some money in — we don’t want to lose this for Okehampton.’

Resident Maggy Whitehouse, a former radio presenter and broadcaster with companies such as the BBC, has got on board along with her husband Lion to try to help save the station and is appealing for others to get involved. As a stand up comedian as well, Maggy is hoping to do a comedy show with Lion and help to train people in broadcasting.

She said: ‘Dan has been doing a great job trying to run it on his own, but he has a full-time job as well. My husband and I want to do a comedy show and I know four other people that are interested in being presenters. We’ve still got space for presenters so if anyone wants to have a go, we can train you up.

‘I love Devon because it’s still got that great community spirit, but if we don’t get the money by the end of May, it will have to shut down.

‘We asked for a meeting with Dan to help because we think it’s worth saving and we want to do what we can to help and contribute to it.’

Anyone who is able to offer help either physically or financially can contact Dan at [email protected]

The station is currently off air at the moment but Dan is hoping to get it back up and running in the next few days. To listen, visit www.moorfm.co.uk