FIVE years ago, IT expert Adrian Sach set up his own company in County Durham specialising in computer software development, creating customised packages for firms nationwide.

His business, Software Express, in Langley Park, took a dramatic change in direction when someone close to Mr Sach became blind.

"About one and a half years ago, a close family friend lost his sight," said Mr Sach.

"He came to me and asked what computer software products were on the market for people in his position. He wanted to be able to write letters to friends and send e-mails on his computer.

"He ended up spending thousands on software and going on a ten-week course to learn how to use it and it was just too complicated.

"All the package did was read out what was written on screen and relied on the user remembering lots of shortcut keys.

"It was over-priced and totally impractical."

Mr Sach set to work on creating a software package for his friend, which was easy to use and allowed him to read and write e-mails and letters and surf the Internet.

Over the past 18 months, Mr Sach has invested about £30,000 and developed the software to sell through his company.

It recently picked up an award from the Royal National Institute of the Blind.

The Guide software uses its own in-built screen reader and magnifier and has simple menu options to lead the user through every stage of word processing a document, sending an e-mail, surfing the Internet and scanning and reading a book.

All its commands are delivered by a voice and it is operated solely via the keyboard.

Mr Sach, director of Software Express, which employs five staff and has an annual turnover of more than £100,000, said it took a year to develop the software fully.

"We have got what we believe is a fully comprehensive product," he said.

"We will continue to listen to what our customers want and develop the product further where we can. The Guide software gives blind and partially-sighted people easy access to information and enables them to read and write again with ease."

The software, priced about £400, and additional products, including a large print keyboard, are sold nationwide through organisations and charities for the blind and partially-sighted. They are also available worldwide through the company's website, www. softwareexpress.co.uk