FOR some Glossopians, there’s no better way to start a Thursday than having a listen to the paper.

That’s if they subscribe to the Glossop Talking Newspaper – the only one of its kind in the area. The weekly 45-minute cassette – designed primarily for the sight impaired – is put together by a ten-strong team, including former Daily Express sub-editor Alan Coates.

Alan, 70, said: "We’ve been going for about 20 years. We hope, before too long, to have it on CD. We also want to increase our listenership, the more the better - not just visually impaired people, but anyone with a disability that makes it difficult for them to go out and buy a newspaper.

"The post office delivers it free to our listeners, and there is no charge for the tape itself. We rely on financial contributions from various sources.  We sent a copy to the Royal National Institute for the Blind, and they said it was the best tape they had ever heard."

David Andrew, 64, the paper’s organiser, said: "We regularly get letters of praise from listeners. There must be many more people who could take advantage. We have the facilities to provide many more."

The paper currently has about 30 listeners. There are about 400 talking newspapers spread throughout the country.

Anyone interested in having the Glossop Talking Newspaper delivered to their home should contact the Volunteer Centre on High Street East, Glossop. 01457 865722