A BLIND woman from the North-East is one of the first people in the country to listen to her favourite radio programmes on a new specially adapted DAB digital radio set.

Marilyn Clenaghan, from Thornaby, Teesside, received the set from the British Wireless for the Blind Fund (BWBF), which issues audio equipment on free permanent loan to the blind and partially sighted.

Ms Clenaghan, 59, who recently retired, said: "I'm thrilled with my new radio. The sound quality is crystal clear. I really enjoy natural history programmes and the new set makes them a delight to listen to."

The radio set, known as the Duet, has been adapted by Roberts Radio from its standard Gemini 8 RD8 model working to a brief from the BWBF.

Duet has raised pre-set buttons and brightly-coloured, illuminated controls to benefit those with residual sight.

For more details, or to support BWBF, visit www.blind.org.uk or call (01634) 832501.