South Africans nostalgic for entertainment from an era when radio was known to many as the "wireless", can get their hearing aids ready.

The popular programmes of Springbok Radio, one of the most beloved and successful commercial radio stations in South African history, will shortly be back "on air".

According to the Springbok Radio Preservation Society of SA, gems such as "Squad Cars", "Lux Radio Theatre", "Taxi", and "The Creaking Door" will take to the airwaves again when the society launches its full-fledged Internet radio service on 1 July.

The new service will operate 24 hours a day repeating a six-hour compilation of programmes four times daily to accommodate listeners both at home and on an international level. Programming will change on a daily basis, the society said in a statement on Friday.

The programming would also include other favourites, such as "The Epic Casebook", "The Men From The Ministry", "The Sounds Of Darkness", "High Adventure" and many more.

The radio service would be available to all Internet users free of charge.

There would also be new programming that would include popular music and variety shows.

All new programmes would concentrate on nostalgia and be presented in the old-style format associated with Springbok Radio.

For the past 21 years the society had been collecting, restoring and archiving over 20,000 original Springbok Radio programmes.

"A treasure trove of radio comedies, dramas, suspense, mystery and horror stories - spanning nearly 35 years - were broadcast once only on Springbok Radio and the society is of the opinion that they deserve to be heard again."

To be known as "The Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio.Com", the new streaming service would operate from the society's website at "www. springbokradio.com" from 1 July.

Members of the public can visit the website for a special audio preview.

Sapa