Bradford's hospital radio station will once again be music to the patients' ears after a revamp and a move to roomier premises.

Radio Royal is set to start broadcasting again to in-patients from its new base near Field House at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Radio station chairman, Ashley Williams, said the refurbishment had been undertaken with a £5,000 grant from Sovereign Health Care and would mean the station could rock around the clock in future.

The latest purchase has been an automated play out system enabling the station to be on air 24 hours a day - a hi-tech change from the station's launch as The Medicine Chest in 1952, when there was little more than a gramophone, a couple of speakers and a small collection of current hits.

Mr Williams, a civil servant who has been with the station for 12 years, said the range of music played varied according to which ward was visited, but current favourites were Pavarotti, Britney Spears, Frank Sinatra and Boyzone.

Most of the station's music is on vinyl singles and albums, but Virgin Records in Bradford supports the station by providing more current CDs.

The station is staffed by volunteers, who present shows as well as going around the wards to collect requests.

Radio Royal currently broadcasts from 7pm to 10pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but it is hoped to extend the broadcasts when the latest batch of volunteers is fully trained and on board.