A NEW digital radio network has launched in Inverclyde - with the district’s dedicated station set to hit the airwaves soon.

Coast DAB, which also covers Argyll and West Dunbartonshire, features five new stations – Lomond Radio, based in Dumbarton; BFBS Scotland, serving the Faslane naval base; Celtic Music Radio, extending its Glasgow service; Timeless Radio and spin-off Timeless 70s.

Further stations are due to join up shortly after licences are awarded by industry regulator OFCOM, including Inverclyde’s Clyde Coast Radio and Dunoon’s DCR.

The network aims to broadcast up to 20 new stations for listeners across its coverage areas.

The operator of the new network is local company Coast DAB, which is run by broadcaster Derek McIntyre and radio engineer Spencer Pryor.

Derek said: “It's taken us nearly four years to get to this launch, as the original licensee – an offshoot of a national broadcaster – returned the original licence to OFCOM, the regulator, saying the area was not viable for a DAB network.

“We did not believe this and stepped in and through some clever engineering we cover nearly 90 per cent of the area with a great signal.”

Listeners with a DAB radio may have to complete a 're-scan' for their radios to pick up the new network stations.

After a re-scan, the new stations should appear in the station list alongside the current BBC and commercial radio stations available in the area.

For the technically minded the multiplex operates on Channel 8B on DAB, and all stations broadcast in the superior DAB+ standard.

Further information about the network and the new stations is available at coastdab.com.