Volunteers have been shut out of a community radio station which has been broadcasting in Sittingbourne for five years.

SFM locked the doors of its studio at Crescent Hall last week and has been airing a selection of automatically selected songs.

Listeners have also heard a message saying it has “gremlins in the system” but will be back soon.

However, volunteers are said to be upset and angry after no explanation was given for the sudden closure.

A man whose friend volunteers at SFM, said: “The radio station is in crisis.

“The volunteers have been totally left in the dark not knowing whether the station will close or will carry on in some fashion,” he added.

“They are really upset and sad that all their effort, hard work and time has amounted to nothing – no one has bothered to tell them what is happening.

“It is disgusting how they have been treated and many volunteers have now said they will not return due to their treatment.”

Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom is assessing whether SFM is in breach of its licence obligations which says it must have a minimum of 12 hours original output per day.

Station director Pete Flynn, who has been the driving force behind the station, has been unavailable for comment.