Former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read has hit the airwaves from a piece of floating broadcasting history moored in Essex.

East Anglian Daily Times: Mike Read in Studio 2 onboard Radio Caroline's radio ship Ross Revenge Picture: PAULA SHAWMike Read in Studio 2 onboard Radio Caroline's radio ship Ross Revenge Picture: PAULA SHAW (Image: PAULA SHAW)

He visited Radio Caroline's radio ship Ross Revenge on the River Blackwater for a week of outside broadcasts called Radio Milestones.

He is broadcasting from a number of locations which are part of radio history for online station United DJs.

Mike kicked off the series with a show at 7am on Monday October 21 from the Ross Revenge.

The ship is the latest to be used by Radio Caroline, which gained legendary status for its 'pirate' unlicensed broadcasts in the 1960s and 70s.

East Anglian Daily Times: Mike Read in the record library on the Ross Revenge with Radio Caroline DJs Nick Jackson, left, and Dave Foster, right Picture: PETE CRISPMike Read in the record library on the Ross Revenge with Radio Caroline DJs Nick Jackson, left, and Dave Foster, right Picture: PETE CRISP (Image: PETE CRISP)

It was a catalyst for the launch of Radio 1 in 1967, where many Caroline DJs such as Tony Blackburn, Johnnie Walker and Tommy Vance would go on to work and become household names,

Radio Caroline is now land-based and broadcasts on medium wave and DAB, but in a nod to its heritage broadcasts from the ship once a month as Radio Caroline North.

Mike said: "It was great to visit Radio Caroline, the station where so many Radio 1 DJs started their careers."

During the week he also plans to visit BBC Broadcasting House, Castle Goring where the first commercial radio demo was made, the Marconi Broadcasting Hut in Writtle, near Chelmsford, used by Marconi for the first regular radio broadcasts in 1922, and the former Radio Luxembourg studio in London.

"Mike is visiting many notable locations but we are pleased that our ship and our radio station has the status of 'still is' rather than' once was'," said Radio Caroline station manager Peter Moore.

Radio Caroline broadcasts 24/7 from land-based studios on 648AM, on DAB and online.

United DJ broadcasts can be found here.