A CHARITY, which puts local newspapers on cassettes for blind people, was reeling this week after having £4,000 worth of new computer equipment stolen from its Farnham studios.

Thieves are thought to have used a screwdriver to remove a Compaq computer, 17" flat-screen monitor and digital control system from Farnham and Alton Talking Newspapers' dubbing room at their base at Farnham Maltings, while volunteers occupied two rooms either side. The room was unlocked at the time of the theft.

The equipment had been bought last month to implement a new and improved system of producing audio tapes.

For the two weeks before the theft, which happened between 3-15 and 4-30 pm on August 13, voluntary engineers, dubbers and presenters had been trained in the use of the new technology.

Brian Smith, chairman of the charity, which puts the Farnham, Haslemere, Bordon and Alton Heralds, Fleet News and Mail plus free papers on tape for 300 listeners, described the theft as "brazen and contemptible".

"It's an enormous blow for the TN, which was planning to introduce the new technology at the beginning of September and many of our volunteers have been putting in a lot of time and effort learning how to operate it.

"The theft will clearly affect our training schedule but we are determined to do our best to meet the planned target date."

Mr Smith added that replacement equipment is on order and that another Compaq computer, not taken by the thieves, is now bolted to a desk.

Ian Cooke, the technical director responsible for the installation of the equipment, said the theft of the digital control system was a huge loss.

"It's called an inter-face and can only be used by us. It would be totally worthless to anyone else. If just this can be recovered it would make life a great deal easier as well as saving a great deal of time and money we can ill afford."

Farnham and Alton Talking Newspapers was founded in 1972 and is one of the oldest talking newspaper groups in England.

Its team of 100-plus volunteers edits six weekly papers and free papers to produce four weekly 90-minute tapes and a monthly magazine, provided free to blind and partially-sighted listeners.

Based at the Maltings since 1979, the charity has to leave the venue next year because of the Maltings redevelopment plans, and is actively seeking a new home.