A SUSPECTED pirate radio station operating from the centre of Taunton has been closed down following a raid by police and OFCOM officers this morning.

Town Centre Neighbourhood officers and members of OFCOM, the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, executed a warrant under the Wireless and Telegraphy Act 2006.

Computers and broadcasting equipment was seized during the operation in the High Street area, police say.

Police were called in after complaints about Rage FM, which broadcast junk music and political comment, including expletives.

An OFCOM spokesman said: ““Illegal broadcasting is a serious criminal and anti-social activity.

“The pirates who broadcast without a licence risk causing harmful interference to communications services used by the emergency services and are a nuisance to legal broadcasters.

“They can also have a negative impact on the local communities to which they illegally broadcast.”

A 23-year-old man has been arrested and is currently being interviewed by OFCOM officials at Taunton Police Station.