Rutland and Stamford Sound, the local community radio station that is a much loved part of Rutland-life, is turning 5 this week and are inviting local people to get involved in the celebrations.

The station launched in 2021 and has seen growing presence and listeners, relied on locally for weather, traffic updates and local events across Rutland and Stamford.

On Thursday 5 March, Rutland and Stamford Sound will be broadcasting throughout the day as they tour around towns and villages in a bus, stopping for various community events throughout the day.

The birthday bus, which has been borrowed from Bland's Busses, will start in Oakham at 9.30am with a performance from Rutland Morris and station manager Rob Persani will be speaking to the High Sheriff and Lord Lieutenant of Rutland in Oakham Marketplace.

From there, the bus will head to Lyndon for an interview with the team behind the Leicestershire and Rutland Osprey Project.

This will be followed by a performance of over 30 community singers from across the region. This will be broadcast from Uppingham St Peter and St Paul Church.

The bus will then head to Birch Tree Café in Easton on the Hill for 11.45am. The café is partly staffed by young adults with Down's Syndrome, who will join the Rutland and Stamford Sound team on the bus for cake.

The bus will then travel to Stamford where live music will be played from award-winning Ukrainian pianist and composer Yaroslav Oliimyk.

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To wrap the day up, the birthday tour will end with a community convoy through Burley Park, with local people being invited to join the procession cycling, running, walking or wheeling behind the bus.

Local businesses and organisations are also getting involved in the celebrations, with businesses in Oakham, Uppingham and Stamford joining the festivities with a window-dressing competition, decking out their displays in the station colours green and blue.

Stamford Flower Club will also be decorating their bike display on the Stamford roundabout on Uffingham Road in the stations colours and Live Life Eat Cake will be donating cupcakes to the celebration.

Rutland and Stamford Sound runs as a Community Interest Company (CIC), meaning they do not run for profit, instead reinvesting money back into the business, creating a valuable asset for local people and businesses.

To join the singing, convoy or window competition or find out more about the birthday, visit Rutland and Stamford Sounds' website.