When I go for a walk I like to listen to the radio but I have trouble with headphones because I can't hear runners or pushbike coming behind me. I then tried a hand-held radio but the sound would fade when I changed direction of travel. Someone told me to try a digital radio but I don't know anything about them. Has anyone got some experience of these ? Thanks in advance.

Try a noise cancelling headset, Quiet Comfort, from Bose. Bose Headphones and Headsets (http://www.bose.com/controller?event=VIEW_STATIC_PAGE_EVENT&url=/home_entertainment/headphones_headsets/index.jsp&ck=0)
They are pricey, but work.

MP3 players are cheap, and you can listen to what you want to hear, instead of what someone else wants to play.
You could get a set of glasses that alow you to see behind you?