THE number of people Read Easy volunteers in Bridport have taught is at a record high.

The literacy charity is currently teaching 27 adults to read and since the group began five years ago it has taught the essential life skill to more than 70 people.

At the group's fifth agm deputy mayor Anne Rickard presented certificates in the town hall to everyone completing the course this year.

Read Easy chairman Christian Tyler said: "This is our most successful year since we started in terms of numbers. We have 27 pairs of coaches and readers.

"Three years ago we were getting short of funds but last year we have a very good fund-raising year and we found we had more volunteer coaches than we had readers but this year the readers have come forward in record numbers.

"Our success has meant has meant more work so we are expanding the committee and we are recruiting an assistant for Vee Driscoll who is our founder and co-ordinator.

Mr Tyler said it was still difficult for people to admit they cannot read so Read Easy talks to Citizens' Advice Bureau, the Job Centre, medical practices, companies and parents to spread the word.

He said: "It is very hard for people to come forward that is why we put a very high premium on confidentiality because it is hard for people who have pretended all their lives that they can read when they can't.

"Even when they have had the courage to come forward they are embarrassed for it to be known.

He said there were still a lot of people out there who need help and increasingly more immigrants.

Mr Tyler added: "We are not interested in why they can't read we are only interested in finding ways of getting them to read.

"It is important to say we are finding there are people who are for one reason or another perfectly competent and practical but simply missed out on reading.

"There are people who have learning difficulties but increasingly there are new arrivals who can't read English properly so it is no longer just a failure of the education system."

Readers are taught for free but it costs about £135 to put a person through the course.

There are already groups in Beaminster and Lyme and a new group in Axminster.

Anyone who would like to know more should contact Vee Driscoll on 0844 472 2980 or email vee@readeasy.org.uk