WHEN it comes to local news, visually impaired and blind people in the Forest of Dean have no fear about being left in the dark.

Every Wednesday, members of the Forest Talk group receive copies of the Review and Forester newspapers.

They get down to reading both publications from front to back before editorial teams select the stories they want to share with the local people who have sight issues.

Founded in 1984, the Forest Talk volunteers then set about deciding a running order before recording begins.

Long-time volunteer Jo Smith said: “We have a script and a running order and also a magazine-style section. The whole is then recorded on a master memory stick.

“Copies are made and distributed to members by post or internet. “

The group was form- ed after a conversation between a social worker and a visually impaired man.

The social worker had relocated to the Forest from Surrey where a ‘talk’ scheme was already operating.

There are now 38 volunteers divided into four groups.

For full details of how Forest Talk began and to learn of the group’s plans and ambitions, Jo Smith will be talking to the Forest of Dean Local History Society at their meeting at The Community Centre, Yorkley this Saturday, September 21, at 3pm.

Visitors are welcome.