A PLANNED community radio station will learn its fate later this month.

Bolton FM, based at Ashburner Street Market, has sent a bid to Ofcom for a full-time community radio licence.

The group behind the project have been working on the bid for more than 18 months. Dorothy Martland, who set up Diversity in Barrier-Breaking Communications (DBBC) to train people in radio and boost confidence, is on the board of Bolton FM.

She said: "We believe we have a strong bid and the station would serve the whole community."

The station will be funded through grants, sponsorship and fundraising activities.

If Bolton FM is granted a licence it could be on air in January 2009.