The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is campaigning for blind residents to be given access to essential mobility benefits to enable them to travel safely and live independently.

And now their cause has been helped by Wansbeck Council, which has agreed to join the campaign and write to government officials.

Officials at the RNIB say blind people have been given more freedom to use public transport through the concessionary travel scheme but still face difficulties in identifying which bus to get, where to get off or how to find the bus or train stop.

Alternate methods of transport, such as relying on family or taxis, results in additional unaffordable costs, leaving the RNIB to campaign for blind people to get access to the Higher Rate Mobility Component of

Disability Living Allowance from the Department of Work and Pensions.

Wansbeck members said they were keen to support the campaign to get a higher allowance for blind people.

Moving a motion calling for the council's support, Coun Dave Ledger said: "Having spent a very active life in the Armed Forces, I became a war pensioner through injuries during my military service.

"I have the low rate of benefit which appears to be the same of a blind person. I find that very strange.

"Whilst I understand the difference of the low rate and higher rate of disability living allowance, how someone who is blind does not qualify for mobility allowance I personally think is unfair.

"It's an anomaly that should be rectified as soon as possible. I hope ministers in the government recognise it's alright being disabled but when you're blind you're relying on help from others."