A CHARITY for the blind has issued an appeal for help in running computer lessons for people with sight problems.

The County Durham Society for the Blind and Partially Sighted, based in Durham City, has started a mentoring scheme to help people with vision loss get to grips with the world of information technology, starting with the basics.

The scheme has attracted a lot of interest, but with only four volunteers, a waiting list has built up.

The society's volunteer co-ordinator, Sandra Hillyard, said: "Many of our clients were finding it difficult to go on computer courses, even those aimed at people with sight loss, as even starter courses assume some previous knowledge of computers.

"The mentoring starts at the basic level, from switching the computer on to writing a letter.

"The scheme has been greeted with a great deal of demand and, as the scheme has currently only four volunteer mentors, this has resulted in a waiting list for the service.''

The charity is seeking visually-impaired computer users who can operate specialist software packages, including synthetic speech and magnification, to help out.

Anyone who wants to help with the scheme, or would like more information about the society and its work, is asked to call 0191-386 8175.

The society provides a range of services to more than 2,000 people across the county, including providing information on blindness and partial sight, a telephone support scheme, a driver escort service for hospital eye clinic appointments and a talking newspaper.