CREDITON could soon have its very own community radio station if plans being progressed by Queen Elizabeth's Community College come to fruition.

The college this week went "live" with its own "in-house" radio station called Q-MMUNITY, which broadcasts to students each morning - and can also be heard on-line.

The former canteen building at the Western Road site has been transformed into a business/media education facility complete with a radio studio from which college news, sports results and popular music are broadcast.

While starting in this small way, it was announced at the launch of the radio station that the ultimate aim is to apply for the necessary licences to allow it to broadcast to the whole of Crediton.

College principal, Richard Newton Chance, said that students have played a major role developing QECC's Q-mmunity radio station and also play a major role by being presenters and DJ's.

"I hope that the radio station and business/media centre will help develop the range of skills that makes our students employable in the workplace."

He said that funding for the building work for the project had come from Devon County Council's Invest in Devon Fund, which was established following the sale of Exeter Airport.

With regard to broadcasting outside of the college and to the whole of Crediton, Mr Newton Chance said: "That is the idea.

"We are podcasting inside our own network at the moment but we are looking to get a licence to become a community radio station."

While broadcasts are currently limited to registration time each morning from 8.55am to 9.10am in classrooms, further broadcasts are planned during school breaks and lunch times with separate shows for pastoral sessions.

Further to this, QECC hopes to allow sixth form students the freedom to broadcast outside of normal school hours.