A CHARITY which provides talking newspapers for the blind celebrated its 30th anniversary last week.

The Waltham Forest Talking Newspaper Association is staffed entirely by volunteers who record weekly 60-minute audio tapes of local news from the Waltham Forest Guardian and distributes to anyone with a visual handicap.

It is funded entirely by donations and on Saturday, June 27, the volunteers held a stall at the New Spitalfields Market in Leyton to raise funds for a much-needed refurbishment of the studio and to buy replacement recording equipment.

Tresurer Paul Braham said: “Despite the bad weather, everybody’s humour was on top form and it carried on into the evening. People were smiling and lots of money was raised for charity.”

Through years of fund-raising at fetes and jumble sales, the charity was able to build its own studio based in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, to make the recordings.

But Mr Braham said that £4-5,000 is needed to refurbish the studio so that the visually impaired can visit it and to up-grade the analogue recording equipment to digital because the former is now obsolete and difficult to repair.

The charity is seeking donations to help reach their target and would also like to hear from anyone who has some free time to volunteer.

To receive a copy of the Waltham Forest Guardian on cassette each week, please contact the charity with your name, address and date of birth. Contact 07811 245695