ONE of the most eagerly awaited weekly services in Craven, put together by a band of dedicated volunteers, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

And for residents whose sight no longer permits them to read their beloved Craven Herald, the service is the next best thing, bringing the paper's news and views through taped recordings.

The first stirrings of the Craven Cassette began in Grassington from a suggestion by butcher Harry Binns after hearing of the Pendle Voice, a "talking newspaper" in the Pendle area.

Suffering from failing sight, he approached Alan Midgley, who was involved in social services in Craven, to see if there could be a local equivalent and the ball began rolling. Mr Midgley became general co-ordinator.

In the late autumn of 1977,the first recordings were made at Airedale Hospital, Steeton.

Donations from local organisations provided enough money to purchase recording equipment and 100 cassette players which were loaned out. The service has been a lifeline ever since.

Molly Irbins, of Skipton, says she looks forward to her copy each Monday.

Now aged 73, Mrs Irbins has been registered blind since 1980. And while her sighted husband takes the hard copy of the Herald, she receives a taped recording and "listens" to the news at her leisure.

"I don't have a favourite topic, I just enjoy all the news," she said.

Craven Cassette chairman Peter Longbottom, who has been involved since its inception, said: "Today the service is provided by volunteers who are divided into eight small teams, and is carried out on a rota system."

The volunteers go through the paper on a Friday morning , sub-editing the stories even further so they can pack as many as 40 topics into just 90 minutes.

"If you read out the whole of the paper it would take around six-and-a-half hours so the stories have to be very much condensed," explained volunteer Joan Whitaker, who with husband Peter and colleague Barbara Chew form one of the teams.

"The volunteers probably read the Herald more thoroughly than any other reader," she added.

The present format of taping onto cassettes is likely to remain for the next few years, although the group is looking at new technology.

Today there are around 150 residents who receive the cassette although Peter believes there are many more who are missing out.

"If anyone knows of a blind, partially sighted, or disabled friend who might enjoy receiving regular digests of the local news on tape, please contact myself or my wife Heather on 01756 792837," added Peter.

Meanwhile, people can help support the organisation during its annual street collection tomorrow (Saturday) in Skipton High Street. More than £460 was raised at Tesco and Morrison's supermarkets on July 13.