Talking newspapers 'could close'

Some of the staff at Talking Newspapers are also blind

An East Sussex charity which provides talking newspapers for the blind and partially sighted has said it may have to close due to a lack of donations.

National Talking Newspapers, which is based in Heathfield, has lost up to a fifth of its income this year.

It said global disasters such as the Asian tsunami and Pakistan earthquake were taking up public donations.

Spokesman Tim McDonald said "the smaller, less well known charities" were doing just as valuable a job.

The charity provides national newspapers and magazines on audio tape and CDs which are then sent or downloaded to the visually impaired.

It was founded more than 30 years ago and produces over 230 titles in various formats, but fears the coming year could be its last.

"Nobody else is providing the service but we do need these donations from the public to continue to come in," Mr McDonald said.