We all love This is Alfred – Shaftesbury’s excellent daily podcast.

Now a panel of radio experts have agreed, pronouncing the 40-minute Alfred Daily broadcasts the best in the UK.

The daily online broadcast, launched to keep people in Shaftesbury and surrounding villages connected during the pandemic, took the gold award in the podcast of the year category at the Community Radio Awards in Coventry.

The judges said the Alfred Daily had “a hyper-local appeal, giving a real sense of place and community,” and that, “each episode stands as a beautifully crafted documentary.”

The honour recognises the work undertaken by around 80 local volunteers who contribute to the broadcasts. A new episode has been made each day since March 20, 2020.

Soon the Alfred Daily podcast and a new selection of programmes of information and conversation aimed at the Shaftesbury area will be available to a wider audience.

Alfred was awarded an FM community radio licence by Ofcom before the pandemic. The not-for-profit community radio station will start broadcasting using an aerial on top of the Trinity tower soon, on 107.3 FM. The transmission site, at 770 feet above sea level, will send Alfred’s FM radio signal for miles.

But the service will remain devoted to Shaftesbury and surrounding villages of Melbury, Compton, Fontmell, The Donheads, Semley, Ludwell, Berwick and Motcombe.

Managing editor of Alfred, Keri Jones, is delighted by the award.

“All of our team are

volunteers,” he said. “None of us is paid.

“And we will continue to operate on an entirely voluntary basis even when the FM radio station comes on the air.

“Our regular helpers record interviews and make programmes reflecting local news events, North Dorset history and local nature. They do this purely because we’re passionate about our area.

“To be told that our broadcast is the best in its class by a group of radio experts has motivated our team.

“But even more gratifying has been the dozens of congratulatory messages and kind comments from hundreds of members of our community who have learned of our award. Without Shaftesbury and Motcombe’s support, we would be nothing.”

Alfred is currently training additional volunteers ready for the launch of the FM radio service. Anyone living in the SP7 postcode area is invited to get involved in the project. Email hello@ThisIsAlfred.com. Listen to the broadcasts at ThisIsAlfred.com