A HIGH street store is the first to receive an award for the help it offers blind shoppers.

Boots in Stockton has been named as the first recipient of the Ann Kallagher award for the initiative.

Ms Kallagher, a founder member of pressure group Stockton Blind People's Voice, died last year. The award has been set up in her memory.

Group chairman George Glass said: "When you are blind it is very difficult to shop efficiently because you obviously do not have access to the mass of written information that is there to tempt sighted shoppers.

"The staff at Boots are superb - nothing is too much trouble for them."

Boots has also joined forces with the Royal National Institute for the Blind, to help launch a website for the blind in Stockton.

The talking website aims to tell people about Stockton Blind People's Voice, encourage blind people to use the Internet, and persuade website designers to consider the needs of the blind in their work.

The website will be launched on Thursday, May 24, and will be available at www.blind-voice.co.uk