COMMUNITY radio presenter Gary Johnson has celebrated the milestone of presenting his 500th Breakfast Show.

Gary has been up with the lark for the last two years so he can front the Breakfast Show on The Cat 107.9 FM every weekday from 7am to 9am at the radio station's studios at Cheshire College - South & West (Crewe Campus).

He hit the milestone last Friday nearly three years after joining The Cat when he took up the role of Live Music Stage co-ordinator at the Nantwich Food Festival.

That led to him being invited to co-host on the Purrfect Afternoon show each Wednesday with the station's managing director, Chris Cadman, before he started covering for other presenters.

He recalled: "In the spring of 2019, we started discussing a new Breakfast Show and that we would do it as a pilot for three months.

"The first show went live on June 29 and I think that the expectancy was that it might last 'til Christmas of that year.

"Getting up at 5.15 each morning can be a tough gig, especially in the winter months however, most of the time now I wake before the alarm clock and once you are in that studio and the mic light goes on, you're in a different world.

"In August of 2019 I was joined on a Thursday by local singer-songwriter Megan Lee as we created the 'Thursday is the new Friday' Breakfast Show, which is now approaching the landmark of 100 shows."

Gary says he is targeting presenting 1,000 shows, but that achievement "may well depend on the listeners and my bosses at the station".

Chris Cadman, Managing Director, The Cat community radio said: "Gary is a great example of why Community Radio stations exist, giving local people the opportunity to get involved.

"Despite having no previous radio experience Gary quickly learned the craft, went from co-presenting to hosting The Cat Breakfast Show, one of the premier timeslots on any radio station. Congratulation on the 500 shows Gary, long may this continue."

The Cat is run by an army of 40 volunteers with the station proving essential local listening, especially with its half-hourly Covid-19 updates. It broadcasts on 107.9 FM, online at http://thisisthecat.com/ , on your mobile with the TuneIn app, or on your smart speaker by just asking for 'Cat one hundred and seven point nine'.