A VITAL link with the outside world for blind and partially-sighted people in West Somerset is on the verge of collapse.

Williton-based West Somerset Talking Newspaper has been go-ing for more than 20 years.

But it is now so short of volunteers it may not be able to maintain its service for much longer, and is mounting a make-or-break recruitment drive in an effort to attract younger readers and support staff.

Vice-chairman and retired university lecturer Dr Colin Ross highlighted the problem faced by the registered charity:

"We are all getting too old to carry on," he said. "I'm one of the youngsters at 76, while our chairman, Raymond Young is 80.

"Our chief engineer Tom Mal-lett has just retired at the age of 83, and his replacement Walter Stacey is 80."

West Somerset TN produces cassettes of readings of local newspaper articles at its studio at Williton police station.

The 90-minute tapes are mailed out to more than 100 visually impaired people in an area covering Williton, Watchet, Minehead and Dulverton every fortnight.

It also produces a monthly 'co-lour supplement' culled from local magazines.

"It's not just readers we need," said Dr Ross.

"We are also desperate for support staff to assemble mailings, and to prepare and edit items for inclusion on the tapes."

Anyone interested in volunteering their services should contact Dr Ross by ringing 01984-632782.