MORE than 30 volunteers from the University of Worcester have teamed up with a city community radio station to provide training for budding DJs.

The partnership, between the university and Ofcom-licenced Youthcomm Radio, aims to help the young people who man the station learn the tricks of the trade.

The station was originally set up by Youth Community Worcester and Worcester County Council in 2008 to provide output by young people for young people.

Youthcomm is the only radio station completely local to Worcester, but it also has an online Tune-In app which makes it accessible to anyone in the world.

When funding was cut by the council, the young presenters were left with little training and direction.

But council chiefs called on legendary record producer Muff Murfin to step in and help the station survive.

Mr Murfin, who owns several stations in the UK, has worked with the likes of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and, more recently, Malvern starlet Cher Lloyd.

He is also known for writing the theme tune for 1990s hit TV show Gladiators.

The expert brought in new equipment and re-trained all the presenters before it was also decided to take on the university students.

“The only way that people are going to succeed to become a presenter is practical experience, discipline and actually getting up and doing it,” said Mr Murfin, who is a fellow at the university.

“Theory is great, but people deserve a real chance.”

Currently, the scheme is only taking on media and cultural studies students, but Mr Murfin said he eventually aims to take on others.

“As the station develops we hope to be in a position to employ more trainers to train more young people,” he said.

The students have held meetings with the producer and will be following a rota which will teach them how to prepare for a show, script it, technically produce it and to record it.

Youthcomm also stages the annual Minifest festival in Cripplegate Park, Worcester.

Mr Murfin said the event would be bigger and better than than ever and already has new chart topper Lauren Wright as a headline act.

“I can’t wait to have the students getting involved.”