SWINDON radio listeners will be able to dance to the lilting vibes of the Caribbean next weekend.

As part of the launch of the new community radio station, Swindon 105.5, DJ Michael Carty is hosting an evening called Caribbean Vibe.

It will be broadcast on March 16 and the DJ, otherwise known as MC Ranks, hopes to get the community talking.

"This is definitely something different for Swindon," he said.

The Caribbean-themed evening will include reggae, soul, R n' B and even calypso music.

The show will also include discussion about Caribbean music and food and the Afro-Caribbean Carnival to be held in Swindon in July.

The special guest will be Michael's father George Carty, who is the chairman of the Swindon West Indies Caribbean Association, which is organising the carnival.

Other guests will be invited to speak about Caribbean food.

Michael said: "Swindon's getting quite multi-cultural.

"I'm inviting the community - this is community stuff that people can phone up on or just have music requests.

"To be honest it's dealing with grass roots issues - effects and issues that we have in the community.

"With my show, even though it's going to be music, I want to have chats, not debates but chats."

Michael hopes people of all ages tune in. "It will be a bit of everything - a bit of old, a bit of new," he said.

Michael, who is a Thamesdown Transport bus driver, has lived in Swindon for 14 years, but grew up in Jamaica.

The station will launch on Saturday, March 15.

It will be broadcast from studios at the County Ground and its launch will mark the anniversary of Swindon Town's League Cup win against Arsenal in 1969.

The station has promised a wide range of programming.

The Caribbean Vibe programme will run from 7pm to 9pm.