HEREFORD'S Royal National College for the Blind has thanked people for their messages of support following news that its survival is threatened by financial pressures.

The statement was in response to a report by the BBC that claimed the college would cease to be sustainable without more funding.

A spokesperson said the college had "a plan" that was working, but needed the support of the Department for Education "and councils to make sure that young people with VI (visual impairments) are not prevented from accessing our services when they need them."

The BBC reports that Lucy Proctor, chief executive of the college's charitable trust, blames a squeeze on special-needs budgets.

But that the Government is promising a £700m increase for special needs.

It said Lord Blunkett, a former student at the college, was "very concerned" about the "financial difficulty".

The former education secretary said a "unique national asset" was at risk.

The college in Venns Lane has been established for nearly 150 years.

  • We will update this story on Monday.