TALKING newspapers produced by a Durham-based charity are to be recorded on CD.

The County Durham Society for the Blind and Partially-Sighted produces two bi-weekly newspapers, for the north and south of the county, that are listened to on cassette tapes by more than 700 people.

But the charity plans to start producing copies on CD as cassette players are going out of fashion with the growth of digital technology.

The charity, which relies heavily on grants and donations to provide its services for free, has been given a £500 grant by the Co-op towards the cost of new equipment.

The society's volunteer co-ordinator Sandra Hillyard said: "The talking newspapers are currently issued on audio cassette but times are changing as are our listeners' requirement.

"Fewer people own cassette players as cassettes are no longer widely available. Even when we have the necessary equipment to produce CDs we will still be producing cassettes for those readers who require them, so we will be extending the service rather than changing it."

Anyone who wants to receive the newspapers can call the society, which is in Church Lane, Durham, on 0191-386 8175.