BBC Radio Cumbria has celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Presenter Paul Braithwaite – who has been with the station since its inception in 1973 – joined managing editor Mark Elliott and colleagues past and present to celebrate 40 years of broadcasting by cutting a cake and turning the clock back four decades.

Paul said: “Technology has changed immensely on the station over the last 40 years but the basic premise is the same – keeping it local and providing the glue for the community – which in Cumbria is a big job because the county is so huge but I think it's something the station has done and continues to do remarkably well.”

The station, which has a studio in Kendal, opened as BBC Radio Carlisle on Saturday, November 24, 1973, at Hilltop Heights by The Swallow Hotel, Carlisle - the corporation’s 20th local radio station.

The first voice on air was presenter Chris Rogers and the station’s first programme, The Sound of Cumbria, was broadcast in its entirety on Sunday.

Managing editor Mark Elliott said: “A third of the county's population listens to BBC Radio Cumbria and we have been with them through those amazing times and in times of crisis when the station becomes the focus for essential community and emergency information.

“People in the county quite rightly feel they own us - and the number of birthday wishes and cards we have had from listeners has been wonderful.”