Mansfield’s local radio station is preparing to celebrate its 25th birthday.

Mansfield 103.2, one of the UK’s last remaining independent local commercial radio stations, will mark its milestone on Thursday, 1st February with special programming throughout the day and a ‘Big Birthday Bash’ at Forest Town Arena in the evening.

Mansfield 103.2 burst into life in 1999, but the groundswell for a local station began a few years earlier after a group of people took a trip to the town’s sister city Mansfield Ohio in America. Local businessmen Alex McKie and Philip Smith were impressed by the station there and believed Mansfield and Ashfield should go for a local commercial license from the Radio Authority.

Twenty five years later Mansfield 103.2 is one of only a few local independent commercial radio stations still in existence in the UK and continues to broadcast from the heart of the community.

Mansfield 103.2 managing director Tony Delahunty (pictured), who has been with station since its launch, said: “Looking back on an extraordinary 25 years at Mansfield 103.2, I want to say thank you to all our dedicated staff over the years, our loyal listeners, and valued advertisers who have all played a massive part in shaping our journey.

“We are proud that Mansfield 103.2 continues to have a special bond with the local area and our audience, through both good times and bad. As we reach this milestone, we look forward to sharing our celebrations on air and at our special party at Forest Town Arena.”

Mansfield’s 25th anniversary celebrations commence at 7am on Thursday, 1st February. The Big Birthday Bash is set to be recorded and will be made into a special programme in the very near future.