SHOPPERS have boosted the coffers of the Darlington Talking Newspaper.

The Talking Newspaper featured in the Asda supermarket’s token scheme which sees shoppers deposit a plastic disc in a box representing a local charity they want to support.

It led to Asda donating £50 to the Talking Newspaper and its joint chairman Margaret Harrison said she was delighted with the support.

“Since our tenth anniversary Asda has been a great support to us,” she said.

“£50 might not seem like a lot but it helps keep things ticking over and more importantly, it keeps us in the public eye.”

The Talking Newspaper has been operating since 1979 and records news articles on CD and USB sticks for over 200 listeners who have sight difficulties.

It is based in The Northern Echo building on Priestgate and boasts about 50 volunteers who work on a rota basis throughout the week to keep the operation going.

Louise Gibson, community life champion for Asda, said she was delighted to present the organisation with the £50 cheque and urged other local charities to contact her at the store if they would like to be part of the token scheme.