Moorlands Radio will no longer be paying show fees to its daytime presenters following financial difficulties brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement posted to its website yesterday (Monday), the local station said it had taken the "difficult decision" to suspend the fees in order to "protect the longevity and viability of the radio station".

The station, which is funded through a combination of grant funding from local authorities and charities and revenue from the sale of advertising to local businesses, is mostly run by volunteers, but has also paid fees to weekday daytime presenters on a freelance basis.

But these fees will no longer be paid from the start of 2021, although the station says that both Moorlands Radio and its sister station Moorlands Gold will continue to broadcast as normal.

A spokesperson for Moorlands Radio said: "Moorlands Radio, a Community Radio station serving the Staffordshire Moorlands, is currently run by a team of volunteers with the exception of our Weekday Daytime presenters who we currently pay a show fee.

"As with many businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to review our financial situation in order to protect the longevity and viability of the radio station.

"We have therefore reluctantly had to make the difficult decision to suspend the show fee that we are currently paying our Daytime presenters. This will come into effect as of 1st January 2021.

"The radio station will continue to broadcast 24hrs a day on 103.7FM and online at www.moorlandsradio.co.uk and will continue to bring you the best programs and the latest Local News. Our online sister station Moorlands Gold will also continue to broadcast as normal.

"We would like to place on record our thanks to all our volunteers and those presenters who received show fees, for their incredible support and dedication over the years, and most recently during what has been a difficult year for many."

Moorlands Radio was first founded in 2003, and has had a studio based at Leek Community Fire Station since 2016.

The station transmits from a site in Biddulph Moor, and mainly broadcasts to Leek and Biddulph, with its signal also reaching into Congleton.

Biddulph Nub News contacted Moorlands Radio for further comment, but did not receive a response.