A Worcestershire businessman is celebrating figures that show his radio station is meeting all expectations.

Peter Tomlinson, from Ombersley, near Worcester, launched Saga FM Radio 18 months ago and since then he has seen a massive gain in listener numbers at the station, which caters for the over-50s market.

According to the latest Radio Joint Audience Research (RAJAR) figures, SAGA FM, has added 70,000 listeners in the past year, taking its total audience to about 370,000.

"By any standard these are enormously gratifying results and confirm that we have become an established station in the West Midlands," said Mr Tomlinson, who is the managing director.

"And the station is continuing to attract new listeners," he added.

The station, found at 105.7 FM, is based on the Hagley Road, Birmingham, and plays music from the 1940s to the present.

"We are playing the music our age group wanted," said Mr Tomlinson.

"We did meticulous research before launching and found our target audience wanted melodic music. So we are playing melodic music of any decade."

Mr Tomlinson, who was born in Gloucestershire, moved to Worcester in 1976.

He started out as a freelance sports reporter with the BBC's Home Service, in 1965, before going into TV in 1968.

He was the brains behind the ground-breaking Saturday morning children's programme Tiswas, that was as popular with parents as children during the 1970s.

Mr Tomlinson is still "mates" with his Tiswas co-presenter Chris Tarrant, who is now the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? presenter.

He said SAGA was the first radio station to be awarded a Radio Authority franchise to target the over-50s and the 28 per cent leap in listeners was due to a number of factors.

"We have got the product right, of course.

"We are also drawing more and more people from Radio 2, as they have gone younger with their choice of music.

"Our target age group is very happy to network - word of mouth is a big player for us - and that is now starting to come through in the figures."

Another reason for SAGA's success was continuous "physical awareness".

A vintage double-decker bus, painted in SAGA's corporate blue, tours shows and fetes, and the station also sponsors jazz festivals and concerts.

And promotions such as the "Steaming 60s" day, when 300 guests enjoyed a ride on the Severn Valley Railway, keep the station at the forefront of listeners' minds.

For more information, click on: www.saga.co.uk/1057fm