LISTENERS of the Plymouth and West Devon Talking Newspaper for the blind will be in for a surprise when they receive this week's edition.

As well as the usual local news, the listeners will hear recordings made specifically for them from pupils at Devonport High School for Girls.

A few of the pupils have devised and recorded a programme which includes some first impressions of the school from a new pupil, news about a visiting poet, a few of the pupils' own poetry and advice to adults about how to deal with teenagers.

Editor Sarah Denne, who co-ordinated with teachers Clare Salkeld and Elspeth Wiltshire, was delighted with the completed recording.

She said: 'The girls have worked so hard on this project and it will be a nice change for our listeners to hear some younger views on life. There are funny pieces and also moving ones, including a pupil's reaction to reading Anne Frank's Diary.'

Each week more than 100 blind and partially sighted people from the area receive a CD or cassette tape.

Volunteers work in the studio behind the Post Office in Tavistock to produce and send out each edition, which consists of items from the week's local newspapers, including the Times, and 30 minutes of features, which they hope will be of interest to a wide variety of listeners.

The charity's secretary, John Harris, said: 'It's nice to have young people involved with the talking newspaper. We're hoping to have more material from the school in the future.

'The charity is entirely funded by public subscription, and our flag days are April 22 and 23, so watch out for our collectors.'

The Talking Newspaper for the Blind is free to listeners. Anyone who is visually impaired and would like to receive the weekly edition of local news and features, can contact the studio on 01822 618922.