HELP is at hand for visually impaired people this Christmas with the launch at a Kidderminster food store of braille labels on bottles of alcoholic drinks.

West Midlands Co-op, in Franche Road, is among a number of stores which has introduced blind-friendly labelling on two spirits - vodka and whisky - just in time for the festive season.

The new labelling, which enables people with impaired sight to identify the contents by 'reading' a series of raised dots, is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK.

A spokeswoman for the group said there were already plans to extend the labelling to other drinks including the store's own label beers, wines and spirits.