A TALKING newspaper has received a £300 boost from Durham's Prince Bishops Shopping Centre.

The centre has given the money to the County Durham Society for the Blind and Partially Sighted, based in North Road.

The society produces a fortnightly newspaper on cassette with news and information and has more than 700 regular listeners.

The newspaper, which has North and South Durham editions, costs about £15,000 a year to run.

Centre manager Richard Toynbee said: "I am delighted we can support such a worthwhile initiative, especially one which is of direct benefit to the community.

"As a centre we are always conscious that we provide an enjoyable shopping experience for everyone, regardless of disability, and this is a great way for us to communicate news and information about the centre to the blind and partially sighted community.''

The newspaper aims to increase its circulation among the 3,500 blind and partially-sighted people in County Durham.

Linda Curtis, the society's director, said: "For many of our listeners the talking newspaper is their only link with other visually impaired people who share common problems.

"I would like to thank Prince Bishops for their support as the newspaper really does reduce the social exclusion experienced by elderly people whose sight loss prevents them from keeping up to date with news of their local community.''