A fantastic reception

WE TOUR THE BELMONT TRANSMITTER THAT HAS BEEN BROADCASTING YOUR TV AND RADIO FOR 60 YEARS

- By DONNA CLIFFORD

TOWERING high over the Lincolnshire Wolds, the Belmont transmitter rises more than 351 metres into the sky, making it 41 metres taller than The Shard, in London, and the second tallest mast in the UK.

Built in 1965, it came into service at the end of that year and continues to broadcast television and radio signals across Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire to this day.

The mast dominates the landscape and can be seen across much of Lincolnshire. Its bright red aircraft warning lights are visible on clear nights as far north as the Humber Estuary. Pointing so far up into the sky, it's impossible to miss.

We followed a country lane to the station's entrance, where the sheer scale of the mast became clear. Standing directly beneath it, you have to lean back just to take it in its sheer scale.

We were greeted by field operations regional manager Craig Kelly, of the site's owner Arqiva, along with broadcast engineers Adrian Parkinson and Simon Burkinshaw. After introductions, they led us inside the transmitting station at the foot of the mast.

Arqiva supplies national terrestrial television and radio broadcasting services, delivering digital TV, analogue and digital radio to households across the country.