A hospital radio station which has been lifting the spirits of patients since 1977 is on the hunt for new DJs.

Goodmayes Hospital Radio, The Jumbo Sound, broadcasts to patients at Goodmayes and King George Hospital, but with just five regular presenters, volunteers say they need new blood.

Martin Levin, 67, of Highams Park, presents a one hour mix of easy listening music every Tuesday night.

He said: “It’s a struggle to provide the service we want with so few DJs so we would welcome some new faces.

“I’m a Gladys Knight man myself, but although I play requests it would be good to get a few people in with different musical tastes.”

Mr Levin got involved with the station after the breakdown of a relationship.

He said: “I was very depressed at the time and I found music lifted me.

“I spoke to a chap at a counselling session at the hospital who was involved with the radio station and I’ve been here ever since.

“I think music has great healing properties.”

Fellow broadcaster Phil Lester, 66, of South Woodford, got started at the station after hearing an appeal for DJs on BBC Radio Essex 10 years ago.

He said: “It’s changed a lot since then. We are on the Internet now, so we get listeners from all over the World.

“I have people who listen into my show from as far afield as Adelaide, Australia, and the Canary Islands.

“I play the likes of Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, but there is definitely room for all sorts of music – although I’m not sure how the patients would react to rap.”

The station relies entirely on donations to stay on air and volunteers will be out in the Ilford Exchange shopping centre next weekend to collect money.

Marj Young, 66, has been fundraising for the radio station for 25 years.

She said: “I used to work at the hospital and wanted to maintain a link after I left. 

“I don’t do a show, but I do run a weekly disco on one of the wards and I know from talking to the patients how much they enjoy the radio.

"Many years ago we got a big grant from the NHS to modernise the studio, but we are self funded now and always welcome donations.

"We had a 24-hour marathon broadcasting session last month which raised a fair amount.

“It would be great to get some new presenters. It’s a wonderful way for anyone interested in radio to get some experience.”

If you want to give hospital radio a go visit http://www.thejumbosound.com/ and get in touch with the team.