Patients recovering in a Bradford hospital are to be treated to brighter 24-hour entertainment, thanks to the re-launch of its radio station.

And DJs have teamed up with the Telegraph & Argus to give people at St Luke's Hospital the latest news on the hour.

Radio 573 was today due to hit the airwaves under its new name, St Luke's Sound.

Promising a wider range of music and programmes, volunteers are also aiming to update listeners with stories from the T&A's comprehensive website.

Programme controller Chris Pickles, a Barclays Bank worker who has given up his free time to broadcast at the radio station for 15 years, said the former Radio 573 had been given its name in 1979 because of the telephone extension the station was on.

He said: "We decided to change our name because the old name wasn't relevant anymore and was slightly dated.

"We are hoping to have more information-based shows - things that the patients will find useful, such as DSS information and what benefits are available, as well as a range of music from modern chart hits to old tunes.

"We hope to make patients' stays at St Luke's that little bit more bearable."

St Luke's Hospital Radio was started in the 1950s under the name Tonic Tunes and continues to take the traditional requests for favourite songs.

But new improvements, such as a computer play-out system, mean that programmes can now be broadcast throughout the night.

Mr Pickles also plans to recruit budding DJs to add to his 15-strong team.

A spokesman from Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust said: "Hospital radio has brightened and enlightened the lives of patients young and old for many years and the volunteers who spend their time making hospital radio so popular in Bradford need a lot of credit.

"This new link with the T&A will add a new dimension to the service and we hope that patients enjoy a mix of information as well as entertainment."