A community radio station is set to go live today after four years of hard work from committed volunteers.
Mearns FM will launch at 11am from Stonehaven Town Hall with a selection of presenters taking to the microphone for a series of special shows.
The first broadcast will include local reaction to the new station from people at the town’s annual Feein’ Market.
Alan Sanderson, volunteer co-ordinator for Mearns FM, said: “It’s a community station run by the community for the community and gives anyone an opportunity to be involved with a local radio station.
“We’ve 29 trained presenters and interest from about another 15 at the moment.
“Since the test transmissions started a few weeks ago we’ve had a lot of interest.
“It’s taken about four years to get to this stage and most of that was between planning, getting our licence and getting funding and we’re now at the exciting stage where the studio is up and running and we’re ready to go live.”
However the first voice to be heard on the station was still to be decided last night. Mr Sanderson said: “We’ll just be mixing up who is presenting.
“We’ve got everything from local current affairs, to musicals, to rock, a bring back vinyl show, a bit of everything for everyone.”
The cost of setting up the radio station has come to just under £20,000, and interest from the public is such that organisers are considering setting up a rota system for presenters to allow as many people as possible to participate in the long term.
Transmitters at Stonehaven, Inverbervie and Laurencekirk will ensure residents across the Mearns can hear the shows on frequencies 105.7, 106.2 and 107.3 respectively.
To get involved with the new radio station, log on to www.mearnsfm.co.uk or telephone 07871 052107.
Members of the radio station will join dozens of stall holders from local charities business and organisations filling Stonehaven’s Market Square today from 10am until 4pm. For more information log on to www.feeinmarket.org.uk