BLIND and partially sighted residents in Dawlish and Teignmouth are benefiting from a talking newspaper service.

Hear and Now meet every week to read stories from the Dawlish Gazette and create a recording – which is sent to residents all over the area.

Cllr Lin Goodman-Bradbury said: ‘The Hear and Now charity was formed to offer access to books, stories plus local news and events to blind or partially sighted residents.

‘They also support anyone who struggles to read or cannot hold newspapers or books etc. They do this by creating and distributing a weekly recorded “newspaper/magazine” that is listened to by a lot of local residents.’

Each week one of four teams meet in Dawlish and use the local Dawlish newspaper plus books and stories to record a spoken magazine.

These are recorded onto memory sticks that are then distributed free to a large group of local residents some of whom are blind or partially sighted.

These clients live in an area stretching from Shaldon to Exminster and cover Dawlish and district.

And it’s not just people with sight problems who benefit from the tapes. Residents who struggle to read or who can’t hold newspapers are given recordings as well

The registered charity, which has more than 40 volunteers, is holding a fundraising coffee morning on June 27 at Innisfree, Barton Terrace, from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

For more information about the group – or to get involved – call 07376147374 or email [email protected].