A hospital radio station will be back on air in the new year after a successful appeal for new equipment.

After a two-year break Sovereign Radio, the hospital radio station at Lynfield Mount Hospital, Heights Lane, Bradford, will begin broadcasting again on Saturday, February 1, with a full 24-hour a day, seven days a week service.

The station is the only one in the UK to serve a psychiatric unit and programme controller, Steve White, who has been involved with the station since 1987, said it was very exciting to be planning the station's return to the airwaves.

"Following a great response to our Telegraph & Argus appeal we are able to recommence broadcasting to the hospital," he said.

"This has been made possible by the generous donation of a computer by the Bradford-based Yorkshire Building Society, through money raised by their charitable foundation."

The station was silenced when wires were accidentally damaged at the hospital. When work was completed on repairing them earlier this year, the station mounted an appeal to get new digital equipment to re-establish its unique service.

The Yorkshire Building Society gave the station £1,220 to buy a new computer to run the software, although more equipment is still needed.

Steve, said: "We still also need funds and equipment, particularly another computer to edit programmes on, so if any company would like to sponsor a programme we can mention the company name regularly during the programme, have the logo on our website and visible at our roadshows attended by more than 30,000 people per year."

He also made an appeal for more helpers.

"We are now recruiting volunteers and we need several presenters from all backgrounds who can commit to at least two hours per week," he said.

"We also need fundraisers, ward visitors and general helpers."

Anyone who wants to help should call Steve White on (01274) 741821 or apply online at www.sovereign-radio.com