THE late comedian Sir Ken Dodd has helped Radio Clatterbridge win a national award a year after his death.

The hospital community station won best promotion for its special day commemorating the life and legacy of the Liverpool comic who was patron of the charity.

Volunteers learned of their success at the Hospital Broadcasting Association's annual conference in Stoke-on-Trent.

The station beat stiff competition from Radio Tyneside and Hospital Radio Plymouth with the judges deciding the Doddy Day trailer was the best of the year: "Championing the station's late patron, this promo celebrates the life of Ken Dodd, and has lovely use of archive material, including audio recorded at the station.

"The judges agreed this was a great way to commemorate a local hero and they wanted to hear the programme it was promoting – which is what a promo is all about."

The promotion was produced by Andy Bonner and voiced by Neil Jackson, with archive clips of Sir Ken set to his hit single Happiness.

Radio Clatterbridge was also shortlisted in the Special Event category.

Discussions are now under way to invite a prominent new figurehead to take up the role of patron with the charity.