Budding presenters, researchers and writers are needed for a new television station which two entrepreneurs hope to launch for Fenland and Peterborough.

Anyone who fancies presenting is invited for pre arranged interviews during the beer festival at Peterborough later this month.

Broadcast regulator Ofcom has awarded more than 30 local TV licences across the UK. Peterborough is yet to be considered for coverage.

However, two local businessmen are launching Hereward Television with the aim of taking the Channel 8 slot on Freeview.

The station aims to broadcast to towns including March, Chatteris, Wisbech, Ramsey and Spalding.

Whittlesey based Alex J Geairns, station director, said: “Peterborough has so far been ignored in Ofcom’s plans, as it has been considered difficult and expensive to provide local TV in our area.

“However, we have a plan as to where an additional small booster transmitter can be placed, which will serve around 350,000 dwellings. That is the sort of size which makes local TV viable.”

The initial goal is to apply for a licence to have permission from Ofcom to broadcast on Virgin Media.

Nik Fox, technical director for Hereward Television, said: “Television hardly features any coverage of our area, being as we are on the outskirts of three TV regions.

“Our solution to this is cost effective, and will give local residents the chance to be part of their own Local TV landscape, through volunteering, learning broadcasting skills with us, and creating their own programmes.”

Alex has many years of television and radio experience. His achievements include producing, directing, scripting and fronting TV shows.

Nik will ensure Hereward TV’s programmes can stand the test of time, mastering outputs in the new 4K technology, which is the next development on from HD.

His work experience includes BBC, TalkSPORT and Lite FM.

Hereward Television will begin test broadcasts online from Tuesday 25 to Saturday August 29 at this year’s Peterborough CAMRA Beer Festival on the Embankment in Peterborough.

They will be in the music marquee, broadcasting live at various times and streaming coverage of many of the bands direct to the internet.

To find out more visit their website at www.hereward.tv.