Radio station Mix 106FM is back on the air permanently, according to Bryan Darby.

The station closed on September 30, when broadcaster DeFontes ceased operations.

Mr Darby and others in the community mourned the loss “of a balancing voice in the world of journalism”.

However, Mr Darby, acting as a spokesman for the station, said yesterday: “We are back and Shirley [Dill] is back.

“Negotiations over the survival of the VSB radio news network have reportedly been successful and the radio station 106FM is back on the air permanently, although 1450AM radio and online TV have been closed down for the time being.

“As part of the new schedule, Shirley Dill, the popular talk show host, will be resuming her Sunday morning broadcast but on 106FM.”

Mr Darby, a veteran news reporter, said the decision meant that six staff members “have been taken back to run the boutique station”.

He said there had been an outpouring of support for the station, which “has had the right effect”.

Although the station closed last month, enough supporters of VSB radio rallied together for it to keep running its weather update fixture, Storm Watch.

Mr Darby said Hurricane Joaquin “did not do any harm because we were duty-bound to stay on the air and provide the storm watch”.

For 30 hours, VSB’s Chris Lodge provided updates for the community after most radio channels went off the air.

According to Mr Darby, 1450AM was the only channel in operation at the height of the storm on Sunday evening.

“All of the FM stations were blown off the air, including our own 106FM, and the Government radio station at 101FM broke down three times,” he said.