A CHRISTIAN radio station is hoping to set Swindon’s airwaves alight this month with its searing line-up of music and commentary programmes.

Flame FM, based in Okus Road, Old Town, was reincarnated yesterday and will run for 28 days with community radio shows that range from hard Christian rock to Radio 4-style commentary shows to get the brain ticking.

Organisers said the radio station, which has been on air every two years since it began in 2000, said it is simply too much work and too costly to run as a permanent station.

Station manager Barbara Aftelak said Flame – which can be found on 87.7FM – is both for older and younger audiences and is a co-ordinated effort by Swindon Churches Together, which has more than 70 member churches attended by about 10,000 people.

She said: “This will be our fifth year on air so we are starting to build up quite a following.

“People are starting to recognise us.

“Some of our presenters currently work with 105.5 Swindon community radio and have featured as guests on BBC Swindon so listeners should become even more familiar with them this year.

“We also have new professional-looking banners around the town which I hope people have noticed.

“It is great because every time we are on we get larger, so this should be our biggest year.

“We do have quite a Christian feel to our station, for example, every Sunday there are two one-hour services and Bishop Lee Rayfield will be doing a series on the Christian view on genetics this year.

“But we also feature normal music inspired shows.

“I think it is important to bring all the churches together like this because it shows solidarity.

“There are many different denominations involved, including Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist and Baptist.

“We all worship our faiths separately but its great to do something all together and involve ourselves in a bigger project like this.

“It is important we all work together. It’s also vital we have fun – which we definitely have loads of on air.”

This year the shows will be streamed onto the radio station’s website which can be found on www.flamefm.co.uk.

To find out more call Barbara on 01793 536815 or 07769 973015 or email her at barbaraaftelak@ ntlworld.com.