BOURNEMOUTH-based community broadcaster Hot Radio is still on air this evening despite shocking listeners by announcing its closure would happen at 6pm.

A tweet sent by the station earlier today said: “Hot Radio will continue broadcasting whilst we work to find a long term solution for the station. Thank you for your support.”

Last week the station announced on the social media site that it would stop broadcasting on January 6.

The first tweet said: “It is with regret that Hot Radio will cease broadcasting on Monday January 6 at 1800.”

A second added: “We would like to thank all our staff, listeners and advertisers for all their support over the last five years.”

The community radio station started in 2008 as Bay 102.8, based in Poole and was recently given a five year extension to its licence by Ofcom.

In February 2012, AFC Bournemouth’s then-chairman Eddie Mitchell announced that he would be re-launching it as Hot Radio, based at the Goldsands Stadium in Dean Court.

The station had more than 20 volunteer workers as well as paid staff and claimed a weekly reach of 30,000 listeners.