A GROUP of young entrepreneurs are giving the people of Bicester a chance to showcase their music or have their say about local issues.

Ross Arrowsmith, 16, and 15-year-old friends Steven Fulford, Daron Coaker and Sam Isaacs, will launch their internet radio station Spare Moment Online, on Sunday.

And they have thrown down the gauntlet to encourage local bands to get some air play, and residents to talk about issues such as the town centre redevelopment, traffic and planned housing development.

Initially the group will broadcast from Ross’s bedroom at his home in Green Lane, Arncot, near Bicester. The station will be funded by advertising.

Ross said: “The kind of format our shows will take will be entertainment style, with some music submitted by local bands and people.

“I’m hoping it to be multi-genre, so I would ask people who would like their music heard or are in contact with music makers to send in some music.”

He said the plan was to put forward a weekly topic and ask people to contribute their thoughts. The opening show will look at ‘the area we live’. There will also be music shows on Thursday and Friday afternoons.

Former Cooper School pupil Ross, who plans to study creative media at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College, said: “I set up this online radio station for two reasons.

“The first being that, after setting up a film production organisation (Spare Moment Studios) I wanted to branch out and build an internet radio station.

“The second reason is that after Bicester Internet Radio didn’t take-off, I was driven to set up my own.”

“I also think it is important for the younger generation’s voice to be heard, and in this day and age an internet radio station is a popular way of doing so.”

For information or to tune in see sparemomentstudios.com/radio