East Point Radio will commemorate 50 years since the government crackdown on pirate radio stations by broadcasting from the decks of the Mincarlo Trawler.

Eastern Daily Press: East Point Radio, formerly Southwold and Lowestoft Community Radio, launched in 2016. Photo: Courtesy of Lily TarboxEast Point Radio, formerly Southwold and Lowestoft Community Radio, launched in 2016. Photo: Courtesy of Lily Tarbox (Image: Archant)

Pirate radio first gained mass popularity in the early 1960s, when unlicensed stations began broadcasting pop music from offshore vessels.

They played the kind of pop and rock that was not permitted on mainstream radio, before the government's 1967 Marine Broadcasting Offences Act prohibited the existence of offshore stations.

But the eradication of pirate radio was unsuccessful and many illegal broadcasters simply came ashore and set up their own transmitters.

Eastern Daily Press: The station is commemorating 50 years since the government crackdown on pirate radio. Photo: Courtesy of Lily TarboxThe station is commemorating 50 years since the government crackdown on pirate radio. Photo: Courtesy of Lily Tarbox (Image: Archant)

Although there are nowhere near as many stations today as there once were, pirate radio remains incredibly popular.

And from today until Monday, August 14, Lowestoft and Southwold's East Point Radio will celebrate the glory days of pirate radio with live broadcasts from the last surviving fishing vessel built in Lowestoft.

Lily Tarbox, who is one of the presenters on East Point Radio, explained the significance of the event.

Eastern Daily Press: A selection of the East Point Radio presenters. Courtesy of Lily TarboxA selection of the East Point Radio presenters. Courtesy of Lily Tarbox (Image: Archant)

'We've decided to collaborate with the Mincarlo and invite local people on board to see a community radio station in action,' she said.

'The banning of pirate radio in 1967 was a big event because we didn't want to listen to what was being played on mainstream radio – we wanted to listen to pop music!'

Across the four days, 16 different presenters will be playing the very best in 1960s classics.

The schedule includes Bill and Sylvie Jagger, who originally took to the airwaves on Blyth Valley Community Radio in 2009, before founding East Point Radio (formerly Southwold and Lowestoft Community Radio) in 2016.

'Calling ourselves 'East Point' conveys to people that we're broadcasting from the east of England,' added Mrs Tarbox.

'We broadcast to the local area, East Anglia and, because we're also online, we can be heard all over the world.'

'A big selection of music is played on our station and this commemoration event is a great opportunity for people to see and hear what we do.'

East Point Radio will be broadcasting from 11am to 4pm on the Mincarlo every day until August 14.