The charity was so excited by a "talking computer" programme developed by a blind couple in their Peterborough home that they have given a £60,000 donation to develop and launch it worldwide.

It is a feather in the cap for Roger and Margaret Wilson-Hinds, from Orton Wistow, Peterborough, as the computer program, called Thunder, is already being hailed as "modern braille".

With the cash from Children In Need – which was granted after Thunder was evaluated in a stringent vetting process by the charity committee – Roger and Margaret will be able to set up a network of support volunteers to train and support young users and their parents.

The fact that it is free will make it a gift to those who really need it.

Already children living as far away as Africa have benefitted from the program being available on the worldwide web, but it is now set to take off in a big way.

Today, regional manager for Children in Need Melinda Connelly said: "We were really enthusiastic, as it was a unique system.

"We get a lot of different applications, but it's rare we get something like this.

"A lot of blind youngsters can feel excluded by their peers, but through this system they can now access IT and bridge that gap. We are really pleased we can fund such a worthwhile project."

Delighted by the support, Mrs Wilson-Hinds (59) said: "We were really pleased when we found out – the grant will helped us immensely.

"We never dreamed the software would have such an impact and we are just pleased to make a difference to people's lives.

"We have received e-mails from blind students in Africa saying that thanks to the software they have been able to go to university.

"We are also currently talking to an internet café owner in Gambia who is buying a licence to help youngsters who cannot afford computers of their own access the internet.

"It's great that children in the UK will also benefit and be able to have access to computers right in their own home."

Moving with the times, Thunder means that blind and partially sighted youngsters previously unable to use computers in their bedrooms will soon be catching up with friends on Facebook and whizzing through their homework using the internet.

The software makes the computer "talk", reading out what appears on the screen so blind users can hear it.

The system is now compatible with BBC iPlayer as well as Windows 2000, XP and Vista, Microsoft Word and the internet as well as the all important speakers.

It is a tremendous achievement for a couple with first-hand knowledge of the difficulties faced by blind people as Mr Wilson-Hinds (68), a retired computer software designer, has been blind from birth and his wife, a former teacher, lost her sight when she was five years old.

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