THE local newspaper that can't be bought - your super, soaraway Citizen - was the first publication to be converted onto audio cassette for the benefit of local blind people this week.

More than 100 blind and partially-sighted residents have already requested a copy of the recording which was made in a special new studio at Morecambe Blind Centre.

The local blind society raised £32,000 to pay for the studio and decided to bow to popular demand and make The Citizen their first recording.

Development worker Tony Kimpton said: "Many blind people enjoy listening to the radio or receiving cassette tapes through the post which is often a person's only way of keeping in touch with the news, sport and current affairs. The recording studio will help to improve and expand the service to more than 1,200 blind an partially sighted people living in Lancaster, Morecambe and rural areas. We're most grateful to everyone who has helped us raise the £32,000 we needed."

The new recording studio was officially opened by Lord Shuttleworth and Lancaster's Mayor and Mayoress.

Mr Kimpton added: "The Lancaster Citizen will be the first newspaper to be recorded from the recording studio and already this has been requested by some 100 local blind people. The society is often asked to produce relevant information on tape for visually impaired people, detailing entertainment, benefits, leisure, housing and transport. Now the studio is operational, it is there to be fully utilised and help improve the quality of life for local blind people."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.