PRIMARY school students in Hartlepool have launched a 24-hour radio station.

The pupils, aged between five and 11, started the community project at Stranton Primary School after raising £5,000.

Programmes, which will be streamed online, are based on classic shows such as BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs and also celebrate the children’s school work.

Paul Gough, of BBC Radio Tees, was there to help with the launch.

Stuart White, outreach manager, said: “We already had a radio station but it only really played podcasts. We sat down with the children and they said they wanted it to be available for their parents.

“We needed to raise £5,000 so we sold flowers and hanging baskets. We also received a bit of money from local councillors.

“We always wanted it to have an educational function so we have a programme called 60-Second Science, where the children celebrate their science work, and we also have maths quizzes.

“We have even got advertising to cover some of the costs and some Hartlepool Sixth Form College pupils have come down to help the children and act as mentors.

“The children are absolutely over the moon. They want to be in the studio and they see it as a way to improve their school work.”