The founder of a community radio station says he is “devastated” after thieves broke in and stole nearly £8,000 worth of equipment last night.

Marlow FM was temporarily forced off air by the raid at around 8pm, when burglars forced their way into a remote transmitter station in a field away from its studios at Longridge Activity Centre.

Broadcaster Tim Ashburner – who set up Marlow FM in 2011 – says the raid has cost £7,800, which is equivalent to a year’s running costs for the not-for-profit station.

He said: “We're devastated that certain people will rip off valuable community projects like MFM.

“We try hard to serve our community and it pains us when we get targeted in this way.

“The cost of replacement is nearly equivalent to our entire years operating costs.”

After being forced off air following the theft, the team worked hard to restore the broadcast for this morning's shows.

Mr Ashburner said the station was “limping on” with temporary transmitting equipment.

And breakfast show presenters took suggestions from listeners for defiant songs to play in the face of adversity, including ‘My heart will go on’ and ‘Clinging on to life’.

The station boss said he suspected the burglary may be the work of ‘FM pirates’, who target equipment belonging to other stations after having theirs seized by regulator Ofcom.

He said volunteers were working with Ofcom to create a list of possible pirates.

During the burglary, the culprits ripped a door off equipment housing and removed the expensive transmitting kit.

And Mr Ashburner said he and his team will look to replace the housing with a toughened steel cabinet.

After initially broadcasting online, Marlow FM station received its community FM licence and began transmitting in 2011.

And the volunteer staff, who between them present over 20 shows spanning niches and genres, will celebrate four years of broadcasting in April.

Marlow FM is no stranger to adversity, having been forced to temporarily abandon its riverside studios when the flooded Thames swamped the riverside studios last winter.

It was the second year running the volunteer staff had to jump ship because of flooding, requiring a mammoth pumping operation to minimise the damage.

Update: radio station leaps to fellow broadcasters' aid after burglary