BRIDPORT is to have its own radio station Bridport FM for a week, thanks to a £31,000 grant.

The money, from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, will cover a three-year project that is to be launched at 7pm on May 17 at Bridport Arts Centre.

The launch is called ‘I Didn’t Know You Did That’ and will be run along the lines of ‘speed dating’, says arts centre learning co-ordinator Kate Wilson, the brainchild behind the idea.

She said: “The community radio project is to be called Bridport FM. It’s about making radio programmes in the community and we will run it from May through the summer and autumn then broadcast the programmes made in February next year.

Ms Wilson added: “The launch is free and it is designed to get people talking – like speed dating.

“People who don’t know each other exchange a bit of information about each other that the other person would not necessarily expect to hear.

“It is to get people talking and we hope that some of the ideas and stories might form the basis of a batch of programmes.”

The project will include chances for people to learn all aspects of programme making, from interview technique, to recording or putting programmes together.

There are also chances when the station goes live for people to work alongside a professional studio manager, as programme assistants or anything associated with broadcasting.

She added: “There will be lots of volunteer opportunities, especially for those interested in media or just in making a programme.

“But we are obviously also seeking content for programmes, so we want people to know that this opportunity exists.”

The target age range is the over 60 years and between 15 and 25 year olds but anyone is welcome.

In the autumn there will also be courses on song writing and writing drama for radio.

The work will done with the Windrose Rural Media Trust.