A radio station that began as a hobby will celebrate its 50th anniversary next month with a show featuring broadcasting legends such as Steve Wright and Ken Bruce.

Tony Currie, who set up the station in 1963, will broadcast the special four-hour live show on Radio Six on June 6.

The station began as a pastime for five primary schoolchildren in Ardrossan, Ayrshire with Tony talking into a microphone connected to his parents' radio.

Radio Six, which broadcasts from studios in Glasgow, grew into a station broadcasting on FM (illegally), moved to become a cable station and finally to its current internet platform. The station now serves listeners in 190 countries with 18 affiliate stations on AM, FM and Digital in the UK, USA, New Zealand, Taiwan and Singapore.

Director of programmes Mr Currie, 62, said: "When we established our station in my attic half-a-century ago there were no Radios 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and no commercial radio.

"There was only the fading signal of Radio Luxembourg as an alternative to the Home, Light and Third. We are proud we played an important role in helping some of today's household names experience live radio for the first time."

Mr Currie's career saw him progress from hospital radio to presenting a show in Los Angeles to become the first presenter on Radio Clyde.

Along the way he has worked for West Sound in Ayr, in television and as a newsreader and station host, with BBC Scotland and STV. He was also chief executive of AsiaVision, and set up the Irish satellite television station Tara Television.

His celebration day for the not-for-profit station will include contributions from broadcasters such as John Cavanagh, Dave Jamieson, Dave Marshall, Charles Nove, and Kenny Tosh, along with scores of others who have contributed to the station that showcases new music to the world 24 hours a day.

Archive shows will feature Dame Diana Rigg and Deacon Blue's Ricky Ross.