AN OTLEY group dedicated to the delights of radio will celebrate its 50th anniversary next month.

Otley Amateur Radio Society has organised a number of events for the weekend of August 29 and 30 to mark the occasion.

On both days the society's base – 'The Shack' at Clifton Village Hall in Newall Carr Road – will be open to the public from 10am to 5pm.

A special event station, using the callsign GB50ORS, will be operating during the entire weekend and trying to make contact with other radio operators across the world.

There will be also be displays documenting the the history of the group, along with a wealth of detail about what the society does and amateur radio in general.

And visitors will, at certain times, be given the chance to go on air and use a radio for themselves, guided by members who will be on hand throughout to answer questions.

At the same time, the society will be manning a mobile promotional unit on the Chevin, based in The Royalty pub's car park in Yorkgate.

The trailer includes a number of live radio and satellite communications sets that members will be demonstrating to the public.

An Otley Amateur Radio Society spokesman said: "It is also our hope to have a SOTA (Summits on the Air ) team on the Three Peaks with whom we will be making contact during the course of the weekend.

"We do know there are a few original, founder members still in the area, and it is our dearest wish to be able to welcome them to the events of the weekend."