VOLUNTEERS from a county radio station have been celebrating after clinching a number of awards at a national ceremony.

A team of four representing East Coast FM ventured south to Birmingham over the weekend for the first-ever Community Radio Awards.

And the long trip proved worthwhile with the station lifting two bronze, two silver and a gold award.

Ian Robertson, station manager, was delighted with the success.

He said: “I actually thought being shortlisted was the prize and I told that to the team.

“We were one of five best community radio stations in Britain and there is the achievement right there.

“Any further than that did not come into our expectations.”

Taking top prize in the Community Show of the Year was The School Bell.

The show, which takes place throughout the week from 6-8pm, features youngsters from the county's six secondary schools as well as Loretto School, in Musselburgh.

Mr Robertson felt the show was helping youngsters to get their foot on the ladder when it came to a career in radio.

He said: “They have got a voice.

“A lot of them do it and I just want to expand it now.”

Meanwhile, the station, based off Haddington's Hospital Road, took silver in the Live Event or Outside Broadcast of the Year section for their efforts at Truckfest and the Scotland's National Airshow at the National Museum of Flight, near East Fortune, and for their live broadcast on a train journey between Edinburgh and London.

They also took silver in the Technical Achievement of the Year category and bronze in the Innovation of the Year award for their work with Dale Brown.

The youngster does not have the gift of speech but was able to present the 30-minute pre-recorded show with the help of a specially adapted piece of computer software. 

Finally, Mr Robertson took bronze in the Volunteer of the Year category.

He was pleased to pick up the award but stressed it was very much a team effort and stressed that no matter a person's gender, age or special needs, they would be welcome at East Coast FM.

The county's MSP, Iain Gray, was among those offering his congratulations to the station.

He said: "Winning these five awards is an absolutely outstanding achievement by East Coast FM. 

"The station has really gone from strength to strength over the last few years and this is worthy recognition of the significant progress it has made.

“I’m particularly pleased to see that The School Bell won the Gold Award in the community show category. 

"It’s a fabulous idea which has allowed many local secondary school pupils to have a first taste of radio broadcasting. 

"All of the volunteers at East Coast FM deserve great credit for their success at these awards.”