BOLTON DJ Sara Cox said farewell to the Radio 1 airwaves.

The 39-year-old, from Little Lever, presented her final show for the station yesterday — covering Fearne Cotton’s mid-morning slot.

She told listeners: “It’s a good leaving, it’s not an awkward leaving. I’ve got my own show on Radio 2.

“I’ve not had my own show here since December 2012.”

The former model, who went to Bedford High School, Leigh, Smithills School and then Canon Slade, first appeared on the station in 1999 and went on to present the Radio 1 Breakfast show between 2000 and 2003.

Past and present DJs paid tribute to the mother-of-three during the show, between 10am and 1pm.

Chris Moyles, who took over the breakfast show slot after Sara, sent a text message to say: “You’ve joined the ex’s club now then?”

He joked he has a monthly meeting with former DJs Tony Blackburn and Vernon Kay, also from Bolton, that Sara is now invited to.

During her final show, she said: “This station has been so special to me.”

Sara’s first show on Radio 1 saw her co-presenting a lunchtime programme with Emma B before launching the Sunday Surgery, for which she and the team won a Sony Gold award.

After her three year stint on the breakfast show, Sara went on to present in the afternoons and, more recently, she filled in for late morning show host Fearne Cotton while the 32-year-old was on maternity leave.

Sara now presents Sounds of the 80s on Saturday nights between 10pm and midnight on BBC Radio 2.