A WOMAN from the Wee County has been instrumental for a national campaign seeking to halt the closure of the BBC Red Button service.

Clackmannanshire artist Margaret MacGregor got behind the petition by the National Federation of the Blind of the UK (NFBUK), providing vital insight on the importance of the interactive teletext television service.

Margaret highlighted how the service was important for some people with autism, epilepsy, chronic pain, the deaf and many who are elderly and isolated.

The petition by the NFBUK, which has been signed by around 230 organisations so far, celebrated a temporary victory when it successfully halted the switching off of the service at the end of January.

However, it remains open as the BBC has agreed to make a fresh decision this spring and the petitioners are hard at work to collate all the concerns of people to highlight them in future talks over the fate of the service.

The Red Button service provides a variety of information on the news, weather, sports and more in a static text form that is accessible to many disabled and elderly people.

A key factor is that it is accessible without an internet connection and many visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing people, those with autism and epilepsy and much more have raised concerns over the axing of the service.

Margaret, who is a strong voice behind the campaign, is calling on various groups to support the petition.

She said: "I appeal to the presidents and secretaries of church groups, Woman's Rurals, clubs, societies, charities and more within Clackmannanshire to support this campaign.

"The permanent closure of the BBC Red Button service would have a considerable effect on many people, therefore every effort must be made to hopefully persuade the BBC that this service must be allowed to continue."

Those looking to support are asked to contact Sarah Gayton, shared space co-ordinator of the NFBUK, via sarahgayton@yahoo.co.uk or ring 07903 155 858.

Sarah explained that local Margaret provided some "vital information" to help the petitioning team and added: "From talking with Margaret it became clear that this service was a vital life line for many disabled and elderly people in the UK, not just deaf people or those with enough sight to see the screen.

"The NFBUK would like to thank Margaret for all her help and insight to the importance of this vital BBC service, as it appears hardly anybody understood how many disabled people actually consumed news and information in this manner.

"Her insight and explanation to why this service is important helped save the BBC Teletext from the switch off at the end of January, and the NFBUK is very grateful for Margaret ongoing work contacting organisations to ask them to sign this petition to ensure it is kept on permanently."

Visit nfbuk.org/save-the-bbc-red-button/ for more information on the campaign.