A hospital radio station has relocated and purchased new studio equipment after receiving a £1000 grant from Tesco.

Royal Free Radio – previously known as Radio Enfield - was established in 1970 by a group of school friends who were inspired by the pirate radio stations of the 1960s.

The friends started broadcasting to patients in Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield one evening a week.

Today, the station broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week and reaches patients in Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead and North Middlesex University Hospital.

Royal Free Radio Chairman David Scarff who has been with the station since it started said: “When we calculated the cost of replacing our ageing studio equipment – some of which dated back to the 1980s with no spare parts available – it looked a daunting task to raise the funds to achieve this.

“The Tesco Bags of Help grant was therefore a great help in getting the project off the ground and we very much appreciate the support and interest shown by Tesco customers in helping us achieve our aim.

“We’re pleased to be able to give our listeners an even better listening experience.”

As a result of the relocation, the radio station needed new equipment and embarked on a fundraising drive, including taking part in Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme.

Alec Brown, Tesco’s Head of Community, said: “Bags of Help has been a fantastic success and we’ve been overwhelmed by the response from customers. It’s such a special scheme because it’s local people who decide how the money will be spent in their community.”

Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities. Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online. To find out more visit www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp.