A RADIO station is celebrating after receiving a £2,000 grant which means it can broadcast permanently.

Community radio Phoenix FM 98.0 was given the cash from Basildon Council.

Before the funding the volunteer-run station could only broadcast for 28 days per year with it's restricted service licence.

The station, which broadcasts across Biller-icay, aired for the first time ten years ago from a van in the town.

It has since moved to several homes, including a bowling green hut, but thanks to the funding it has now set up a permanent base in the Baytree Centre, in Brentwood. The station, which showcases local bands and a variety of music styles, has officially gone live.

It was granted a permanent licence early last year, but only had the funding to make it happen after receiving the grant.

The new funding went towards the start-up costs for new transmitting and editing equipment, computers and training for its team of 25 volunteers.

It will cost the station around £10,000 per month in rent and bills to keep going, but the team is determined to make it work through further fundraising and low-cost advertising.

Steve Mead, station manager, said: "This grant has made it all happen.

"It's great to know that Basildon Council backs what we do.

"It would have been so much more of a struggle to get the money to start the station up ourselves without the council's help.

"We're really looking forward to building a strong listener base for the station, which has always been so hard to do being on air for only a short time each year."

Volunteers and bands interested in getting involved with the station should call Steve on 01277 849929.