The Western Isles are set to get a new community radio station after media chiefs approved a broadcasting licence request. An application for An Radio/An Rèidio, which will be run by local people for local people, was given the green light by Ofcom on Friday. The radio station will serve the Scottish Outer Hebrides islands of Berneray, North Uist, Baleshare, Grimsay, Benbecula, South Uist, and Eriskay. It was given the go-ahead along with bids from Plymouth and Cornwall.

Ofcom said: “Ofcom today announces the award of three new community radio licences including two services in the south west of England and one in Scotland. Community radio services are provided on a not-for-profit basis focusing on the delivery of specific social benefits to a particular geographical community or a community of interest. The new awards mean that 254 community radio licences have been awarded, with 198 currently on-air serving particular community needs. Ofcom has awarded community radio licences for one service in Devon, one in Cornwall and one in the Scottish Outer Hebrides. The latter is the first licence award in Scotland in our current round of licensing.”

An Radio/An Rèidio will join Isles FM as another community-based radio outlet dedicated to the Western Isles. A request for a new radio station in Inverness was denied.