DISC jockeys at Chester's newest radio station, Dee FM, will not know how many people are tuning in to 106.3FM for another 18 months.

News of the station's battle for listener knowledge came this week following the publication of the official quarterly summary of traditional radio-listening figures by Rajar, owned by the Commercial Radio Companies Association and the BBC.

Listener figures, compiled up until the end of June, show MFM 103.4 has 97,000 listeners, The Buzz 97.1 has 71,000, Key 103 (Manchester) has 707,000, and Radio City 96.7 has 591,00.

Dee 106.3 FM says it will not know the level of interest until next year.

Bob Clough-Parker, co-founder of the station, hopes figures will be available this time next year.

He said: 'We have joined Rajar, but it's going to take a year to get the figures.

'However, we have carried out independent research which showed that 60% of the people questioned said they were aware of the station.

The station is gaining ground and we are very, very encouraged.'

The station claimed it would have a third of Chester's population tuning in months after its launch, on March 1.

Based in Chantry Court, the station broadcasts to Chester, Ellesmere Port, Connah's Quay, Buckley and surrounding areas.

In June radio station chairman Ron Smith said: 'Dee 106.3 goes from strength to strength, with ever increasing numbers of listeners and advertisers.'