Ed Vaizey, minister for culture, communications and creative industries, visited community radio station Swindon 105.5 and was greeted by more than 100 people.

He said: “I thought there would be about half a dozen people and a couple of small rooms. This is very inspirational.”

The two-hour visit was arranged after a request by station manager Shirley Ludford.

She said: “I felt it would be a good idea for Mr Vaizey to make a visit to the station and see and hear for himself from a cross-section of people and organisations connected with, benefitting from, and supporting the town’s community radio service.”