Blind people will benefit from space-age computers that talk, thanks to a grant from the Oxford, Swindon and Gloucester Co-op.

The £1,000 grant was given to the Oxfordshire Association for the Blind to buy screen-talking software for specially adapted computers, including HAL voice synthesiser equipment.

The computers will be based at the association's computer resource centre, in Abingdon Road, Oxford, which is used by about 2,500 blind and visually impaired people in Oxfordshire.

Karen Webb, spokesman for the Co-op, said: "We are very aware that computers play an important role in many aspects of work and home life. We wanted to help blind and visually impaired people make the most of new technology."