THE launch of a new community radio station has proved an overwhelming success.

Penwith Radio went live online (www.penwithradio.org) on Friday with a complete day of programmes and station manager Julian Horner was thrilled with the response.

"We had almost 22,000 hits on our website over the first few days of May, and I believe that about 5,000 people logged on to us at some time or other from as far afield as Australia," he said. "It was a tremendous response which far exceeded our expectations and from the feedback we've had from hundreds of e-mails I think people were surprised at how professional it was."

Penwith Radio started broadcasting on www.penwithradio.org at 7am on Friday with a show hosted by Steve West; the day's other shows were presented by Sally Peterson, formally of Classic FM, Julian Horner himself and Dave Pascoe.

The station will now settle down to broadcast live online every Thursday and Friday from 8am to 6pm – the rest of the week will be used for training to give the 70 or so volunteers the presenting skills they will require.

Mr Horner hopes that listeners on Thursdays and Fridays will enjoy a diverse range of programming, covering all aspects of life in Penwith.

The station's inclusive agenda includes a concern for ecological issues and a mission to help younger people develop media skills – all within a schedule that also promises sport, the arts, local history, Cornish language and dialect stories, drama and quiz shows. Mr Horner added: "Our special thanks go to our core sponsors – Carpet Warehouse, Penzance Computers and the Wharfside Shopping Centre – and also Chris Brown, Beverly Lawson, Eileen Day, Dave Pascoe, Steve West, Sally Peterson, Peter Collins, Teech O'Connell, Greg Healey, Vicky Midwinter, all the volunteers who helped us get to this stage and the chairman and other members of the board of directors." E-mail admin@penwithradio.org, text on 07795526050 or call the presenters live on 01736 362884.