Jail DJs take on Radio 4 for awards

A PRISON radio station has received four nominations for this year's Sony awards.

Electric Radio, based at Brixton Prison, has been recognised alongside BBC Radio4 for its achievements. One of its four nominations is for a prisoner's interview with former Belmarsh inmate Jonathan Aitken, the Tory minister jailed for perjury.

The station, run by the Prison Radio Association, is the first in Britain available via satellite, and the first broadcast around the clock.

Tim Blackmore, chairman of the Sony Radio Academy Awards, said: "Every year we try to adjust categories to match the evolution of our industry, and this year's entries have shown again these awards remain truly contemporary."

Other nominees include Radio4, which is up for 26 awards, and Absolute Radio which has seven nominations. Winners will be announced next month.