PEOPLE with visual impairments across Weymouth, Dorchester and Portland are being urged to make the most of a discount on their TV licence.

If you are registered blind or live with someone who is you can get 50 percent off the cost of a TV licence.

TV Licensing has been working with the Royal National Institute of the Blind to make sure anyone who is eligible to receive the concession is aware and takes advantage of the fee.

Across Weymouth, Dorchester and Portland there are 76 blind licences currently in force, with worries that many people are missing out.

Nationally, the number of blind concessionary licences has risen by 4% this year, with 41,392 blind concessionary licences issued in the UK, up from 39,700, the previous year.

There is more options than ever for blind people to enjoy programmes, with more than 20 per cent of BBC output now audio-described, above the target of 10 per cent set by Ofcom. To show the range of programmes available, the BBC has revealed the most watched audio-described shows over the past three months.

The Vikings Uncovered has more than 19,000 audio-described downloads followed by Louis Theroux’s Drinking to Oblivion with 18,000 and the Great British Sewing Bee came in third with 16,640.

A blind concession costs £72.25 for colour and £24.50 for black and white.

The RNIB is encouraging people to sign up.

Jamie Dormandy, head of customer service and support at RNIB, said: “TV continues to be a popular form of entertainment for many blind and partially sighted people, thanks in part to new technologies such as audio description and the increasing range of assistive software for tablets and laptops making it easier than ever to enjoy programmes at the touch of a button. We would encourage those who are severely sight impaired to take advantage of the 50 per cent reduction in the cost of their TV licence.”

If you live with someone who is eligible and already have a full TV licence in your name, you can transfer the licence to the name of the person who registered as severely sight impaired. To do this go to www.tvlicensing.co.uk/blind or call 0300 790 0366.