WIMBORNE’S plethora of pubs has always made it a mecca for pub quizzes.

And now this popular concept has been taking to the airwaves.

For the past seven weeks, an innovative pub quiz league has been hosted and broadcast live by Radio Wimborne.

Over a pint of two, quiz teams from seven of Wimborne’s pubs have been competing – The Coach and Horses, Cricketers Arms, The Green Man, The Rising Sun, The Lion Hotel, Oddfellows Arms and The White Hart.

The quizzes have been broadcast live from 8pm for an hour from one of the two competing pubs with edited highlights broadcast on Sundays at 4pm.

After seven tense weeks, the heats culminated in a huge grand final on Tuesday (April 1) with The Green Man competing against the Cricketers Arms, broadcast from the neutral territory of The Lion Hotel.

The triumphant team was the Cricketers Arms.

READ MORE: Wimborne to remember the fallen at VE Day: Schedule of events

READ MORE: Business input key to Wimborne Town of Culture

Matt Fleming, Radio Wimborne’s breakfast show host and the pub quizmaster said: “This is the first time Radio Wimborne has hosted such events.

“In fact, I think we’re the first radio station in the area to do an on-air pub quiz.

“It’s been brilliant with people tuning in and playing at home.

“We’ve made sure the sound wasn’t sanitised and listeners at home said the chink of glasses and ambience of chatter has made them feel like they’re in the pub.

“The pubs have really got behind it and have been packed with supporters. The pubs in the town are asking about next year’s competition already.”

Kat Valenti, owner of The Green Man pub said: “The camaraderie between the pubs and the punters has been incredible.

“It’s such a novel idea! Even though we didn’t win, we were thrilled to reach the finals.”

Matt Fleming, Radio Wimborne breakfast show host and pub quizmaster Picture: Wimborne BID

The quiz rounds have been raising money for local charities Julia’s House and Dorset and Wiltshire Children’s Hospices.

Radio Wimborne is run by volunteers and funded through grants and partnerships.

Wimborne BID contributed seed funding of £2,000 during the initial two years of the station.

It has provided subsequent grants for equipment as well as supporting the Son et Lumiere spectacular which has taken place several times over the years.

Matt Fleming said: “We are ever grateful for the backing of Wimborne BID. The support it gives us is helping us to integrate with the community and take the station to local businesses.”

BID Manager Tammy Sleet said: “Wimborne’s community radio station is going from strength to strength evidenced by the way local pubs have got behind this pub quiz league and made it a phenomenal success.”

She added: “Wimborne BID’s relationship with Radio Wimborne is a real partnership.

“We are always delighted to have the support of Radio Wimborne to publicise our events, entertain town visitors with outside broadcasts and showcase local businesses on air.

“We’re also excited to be working with them to bring a new business news slot to their programming schedule to give an on-air voice to Wimborne businesses.”