A battle for control of the airwaves is hotting up around a town in the region with the return of one of the leading contenders.

Hambleton Radio will be broadcasting from Northallerton again this summer as it fights for the full-time licence for the area. The station broadcast for nine days in October last year after being granted a temporary licence for a trial transmission.

But, earlier this year, a rival service, Northallerton Local Radio, entered the fray with a 28-day trial broadcast.

Hambleton Radio is now returning for a second spell and will be broadcasting from July 31.

Station manager Brian Cooper said: "This time we will be on for 28 days and will be able to bring more music, more local news and local information, competitions and prizes.

"We will be able to demonstrate what truly local radio for Hambleton will sound like."

Station chairman Chris Parkin said: "Our aim is to be the full-time radio station not just for Northallerton, but for all of the Hambleton district.

"Our last broadcast was for only nine days, but we still received massive support, as demonstrated by the letters, e-mails and phone calls sent to us."

A wavelength has still to be allocated, but in the meantime, to find out more about Hambleton Radio, visit the website at www.hambletonradio.co.uk