A service which keeps blind and partially sighted people up to date with the local news is concerned that fewer people are using it.

The Talking Telegraph is a free weekly cassette with all the latest news from the Telegraph & Argus.

But its customershave decreased from 350 to 220 in the past few years.

Administrator Frank Long, of Baildon, is worried people don't know about the service, which is entirely run by volunteers.

He said: "We want to supply as many people as possible. There are 40,000 blind or partially sighted people in Bradford - all potential users.

"We don't really know why the numbers have dropped but people may not be aware of the service we provide or the fact that it is free."

The Talking Telegraph was started 19 years ago by a blind Shipley man, Tom Burgess, and now has 60 volunteers who send cassettes to people across Bradford and also to former residents now living down south, in Morecambe and Scotland.

Every week volunteers go through the T&A, cutting out stories and then their colleagues take it in turns to read them onto an hour-long tape.

Duplicates are then packed into yellow plastic envelopes and sent to everyone on the customer list.

After listening to the tape the recipients - who must be registered blind or partially sighted - simply turn over the label and return it.

The Royal Mail provides free delivery and return postage and the tapes and envelopes are funded through contributions. The service relies entirely on donations and receives no formal funding.

Mr Long became involved because he wanted to help others in his retirement. His neighbour, Josie Mason, 74, has been getting the cassettes for five years, since her sight diminished.

She said: "I don't know what I would do without them. It's like someone in the room talking to you. I used to read the paper and I still read the headlines now but it is hard because the print is so small.

"Frank told me about the service or I wouldn't have known about it.

Anyone who wishes to receive the tapes can contact Iris Smith on (01274) 594855 and anyone interested in volunteering should ring Michael Tomlinson on (01274) 571074.