A COMMUNITY radio station that was cut off mid-broadcast after thieves stole the copper wire from its aerial is back on air.

BRfm is back broadcasting live after a voluntary repair effort to replace metal cable stolen from its broadcasting mast near Brynmawr.

BRfm was taken off the air for more than 48 hours last Saturday when volunteer presenter Steve Bower, 55, said transmissions stopped in the middle of the station’s weekend breakfast show when thieves cut 40 metres of wire from the telegraph pole to which the aerial is fixed.

There was a flood of calls to the BRfm studios at Lakeside in Nantyglo from anxious listeners and supporters over the weekend and on Monday morning.

Rob Ball, chairman of BRfm, said that the break in transmission is the longest that the radio station has been off air since it began seven-day-a-week broadcasting more than five years ago.

“We are very sorry for the loss of our transmission for over two days – we know that our audience of regular listeners in communities throughout Blaenau Gwent rely on our service.

“We would like to thank everyone who called in with messages of support.

“BRfm is a community radio station run by volunteers and it is heartening to know that people across Blaenau Gwent are behind us.”