Leicester: 'Talking' bus stops set up to help blind people

The button-activated devices have been fixed below passenger information boards

New "talking" bus stops have been introduced in Leicester to help blind and visually-impaired passengers.

Sight loss charity Vista has worked with the city council to attach audio information points at 21 stops across the city.

The button-activated devices can tell people when the next service will arrive and give them information about the availability of cheap fares.

The council said it was part of a plan to make bus travel more accessible.

Deputy mayor Adam Clarke said the information points were installed in December in locations selected by Vista.

Volume could be adjusted

He said: "We are always trying to innovate to make bus travel more accessible in the city.

"While we provide real-time information to passengers by text, we know not all people can see it.

"These points read out that information. It's mainly for visually-impaired people but also anyone who might not be diagnosed but can't see well."

Mr Clarke said the devices' volume could be adjusted to make them quieter in residential areas and louder in places with traffic noise.

The scheme, which could be rolled out more widely across the city in the future, was paid for following a bid for funding to the Department for Transport (DfT).