A DURHAM charity that helps blind people is appealing for donations of mobile phones.

The County Durham Society for the Blind and Partially Sighted, based in North Road, is collecting unwanted phones for the Community Fonebak scheme that reuses them in developing countries. The society receives £4 for each set.

The society's volunteer co-ordinator, Sandra Hillyard, said: "Since the withdrawal of £7,000 annual funding by the Royal National Institute for the Blind, we are trying a number of new fundraising initiatives and this may well be the modern way to fundraise.

"Almost everyone has a mobile phone these days and many people upgrade each year. This means many phones are left redundant and end up in the bin or at the back of a drawer.

"This scheme not only benefits the society financially but, by recycling, the environment benefits too.''

Anyone who wants to donate their phone can do so at the society's offices, 27 North Road, Durham.

Alternatively, call 0191-386 8175