Local radio is crucial for blind and partially sighted people an Oldham eye care liaison officer has said, following the BBC's recent cuts to local radio services.

Last year, the BBC announced plans to share more programmes across its 39 local stations as it would be letting go of presenters, a decision which caused backlash.

Recent figures published by NHS Digital have shown there are around 1,355 people in Oldham who are registered visually impaired, as of March last year.

This included approximately 770 people who were completely or severely blind, and a further 585 who were partially impaired, with all figures having been rounded to the nearest five.

In Oldham, there were around 105 new registrations and The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has warned that the true number of blind and visually impaired people in the borough could be even higher.

In response to the BBC cuts, the RNIB Eye Care Liaison Officer for Oldham, Alba de Toro Nozal, has said that the radio is essential for blind people as it helps keep them connected.

She said: "Working daily with blind and partially sighted people I understand the importance of having radio in their lives. More often than not, when I ring a patient, the radio is on in their home.

"It keeps people connected and it provides great company. For a lot of blind and partially sighted people in Oldham, radio is the only media accessible.

"People need to remain connected to be happy, and without local radio this would not be possible for many."

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Sarah Gayton, street access campaign coordinator for the National Federation of the Blind UK, said the BBC's recent cuts to local radio services hit visually impaired people harder, as they rely on the radio for information, entertainment and companionship.

Ofcom licensing guidance says BBC local radio stations must provide a certain number of hours of original content each year.

But the corporation has sought to make savings in the face of high inflation and a licence fee freeze, including plans for local radio stations to share more content and transmit fewer programmes unique to their areas.

Ms Gayton said: "We are not going away, and all needs need to be taken into account. Ofcom, the BBC and the Government are not listening, and the way blind and visually impaired people are being treated is abhorrent.

"We feel we have been left behind, and are not being listened to. It is down to the BBC and the Government to provide people with blind and visual impairments with local radio."

A BBC spokesperson said: "We are fully compliant with our Ofcom-set operating licence requirements and will report on our compliance in July, alongside our annual report."

A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson said: "We remain disappointed at the BBC's decision to reduce parts of its local output and ministers have met with BBC bosses to express concerns about these plans.

"The BBC must continue providing distinctive and genuinely local services that reflect and represent local communities. Ofcom will ensure the BBC is held to account in delivering these duties."