A dipole antenna apparatus, and method of manufacture of such an apparatus, are provided. The antenna apparatus has a conductive plate extending in a first plane, and a pair of conductive elements arranged to form a dipole antenna, where the pair of conductive elements are located in a second plane parallel to the first plane. Each conductive element forms a conductive ring in the second plane that surrounds a non-conductive inner area. The first conductive element in the pair of conductive elements has a conductive bridge extending across the conductive ring to divide the non-conductive inner area into at least two portions. A conductive connection then extends from the conductive bridge to the conductive plate. As a result, in normal use the conductive plate acts as a reflector for the dipole antenna, but in the event of a direct current event the presence of the conductive bridge and the conductive connection causes the conductive plate to operate as a ground plane for direct current within the first conductive element of the dipole antenna. It has been found that such an approach provides a particularly efficient, low cost, design for a dipole antenna.