THE radio station that entertains Durham hospital patients is searching for more presenters.

Durham Hospitals Radio has been broadcasting for 40 years, but was off air while Dryburn became University Hospital.

During that time the station - which once served several hospitals - lost some of its volunteers.

But it hopes to get back up to strength and move forward to 24-hour-a-day broadcasting.

Mike Cleeve, treasurer and deputy station manager, said: "We have been back on air for about eight months and have a state-of-the-art studio in the new hospital.

"But during that time we lost three well-trained broadcasters.

"We don't play wall to wall pop music - people can get that from other stations.

"We get out on the wards, talk to patients and their visitors and play their requests.

"We try to joke with them and make them feel welcome and at ease." The station broadcasts between 7pm and 10pm on Wednesdays and Fridays, but is hoping to expand.

To do that it needs to add to its team of seven volunteers.

The station also hopes to produce tapes providing information for patients coming in for operations at the hospital.

The station's famous graduates include Tyne Tees TV's Bill Steele.

The station, which is self-funding, is on the look-out for enthusiastic volunteers who must be over 18 because of insurance restrictions.

"There is a three-month training period in which people would be expected to do the running around and make the tea. If they like us and we like them they can go on to be broadcasters."

Would-be volunteers must undergo police checks.

Anyone interested should call the station on Wednesdays and Fridays between 7pm and 10pm on 0191-333 2168/2169.