A 38-YEAR-OLD Dudley man has been remanded in custody after being charged with a burglary which took Black Country Radio station off the air.

At a recent appearance in Dudley, the case against Jason Pettit, of Stourbridge Road, was adjourned to Wednesday, October 19, where he will appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Pettit was charged in relation to the theft of equipment from the Stourbridge-based radio station which is believed to have happened sometime between 11.25pm on September 8 and 6.40am on September 9.

Broadcasting equipment, including mixing desks, amplifiers and studio equipment, was taken during the raid which was discovered when comedy group The Fizzogs arrived at the studio in St John’s Church to present the breakfast show.

The radio station, which broadcasts on FM in the Black Country, DAB in Birmingham and online across the UK on UK RadioPlayer, launched an appeal in the aftermath of the incident to help raise £10,000 to buy replacement equipment - and bosses at the popular community station were inundated with good wishes and messages of support from listeners and members of the public.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Blackcountryradio