BLIND and partially-sighted people will find shopping easier in Stockton after the council became the first in the North-East to sign up to a charity’s street charter.

The initiative by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) aims to tackle the growing problem of obstacles in the street, such as bollards, cars parked on pavements and advertising boards.

The charity said more than – a third – of partially sighted and blind people in the UK had injured themselves when walking around their local areas and 95 per cent had collided with an obstacle.

There are almost 6,500 people living with sight loss in the North-East.

The RNIB is now urging local authorities to review their street policies and consult with disabled people locally about what changes they would like to see.

Francesca Di Giorgio, RNIB regional campaigns officer North-East, said: “When decision makers take steps to understand how blind and partially sighted people navigate the streets, they help towards tackling one of the biggest barriers faced by people with sight loss.”

For more information visit www.rnib.org.uk/onmystreet

Photo (left to right): RNIB Volunteer Campaign Coordinator, Judith Robson, Guide Dogs Engagement Officer Linda Oliver, Stockton-on-Tees Councillor Nigel Cooke, RNIB Regional Campaigns Officer North East Francesca Di Giorgio, and local campaigns Nicola Stevens, Steven Clark and Mel Robson