AROUND 70 people gathered at the Castledown Media Centre for the official opening of the facility by TV archaeologist and former Collingbourne resident Phil Harding.

Phil, who is well-known as a member of Channel 4's 'Time Team', spoke of the need for communications dating back from ancient times and used a sharpened flint to make the final cut in the ribbon when he declared the centre open.

When fully up and running the media centre will provide training for people interested in careers in radio, provide access to computers, be the hub for the bi-monthly community news-sheet 'No Name News' and be the base of the Castledown Radio.

The radio is already broadcasting on the web and the team is hopeful that Ofcom, the communications regulator, will license them to broadcast on FM airwaves in June on a community licence.

For the full story see Friday's Andover Advertiser.