DELIGHTED volunteers gathered to celebrate the new home of a popular charity this morning thanks to The Northern Echo.

The Talking Newspaper in Darlington has been forced to leave its former home because of new legislation on disability access.

But Newsquest North-East, The Northern Echo's parent company, stepped in and offered the charity new studio and office space on the ground floor of its Darlington head offices, in Priestgate.

And the Talking Newspaper, which serves Darlington and surrounding villages, will record its first edition in its new studios, which have been fitted out with the help of local firm MT Audio, on Wednesday.

The Northern Echo's building services team have been working hard to convert the rooms in recent weeks and team member John Pattison was called upon by editor Peter Barron to cut the tape and open the studio.

The charity's old home was on the fourth floor of the Arts Centre, in Vane Terrace, but the new rules, which come into force in 2004 say all community groups must be accessible to disabled people.

The Talking Newspaper records items of news and information from The Northern Echo, Advertiser series and the Darlington & Stockton Times, as well as a quarterly audio version of Darlington Borough Council's Town Crier.

The tapes are sent out once a week, free of charge to 350 people who live or have lived in Darlington, some as far away as the Isle of Wight. The tapes are then returned to the charity, which recycles them.

Although it has a team of 45 volunteers, many more have been forced to leave because they are unable to manage the five sets of stairs.

The charity's chairman, Paddy Dinsdale, said: "We are very, very grateful to Newsquest and everyone in this office, they have made us feel welcome from practically the word go, and helped us in so many ways."

Of the Talking Newspaper's new home, she said: "It means we have accessible premises to come and work and produce our paper in.

"Remember, we are volunteers, so none of us are young and the fact that this is so easily accessible is a boost to us all. It's such a joy to know we don't have to puff and pant our way up five flights of stairs."

Mr Barron said: "We want The Northern Echo to be at the heart of the Darlington community and it seems to us that a famous newspaper and a talking newspaper are the perfect fit."

Anybody who is interested in subscribing to the service, or volunteering to help, can contact the charity on (01325) 465101.