VISUALLY-impaired students will be able to surf the net with ease for the first time thanks to ground-breaking new technology.

For RNIB New College's 85 students, navigating the internet and studying on-line has often been frustrating and difficult - and in some cases impossible.

The Whittington Road school is now preparing to introduce a pioneering computer programme called CREATE, which will allow pupils to gain full access to the college website.

Due to go live at Easter, the site will allow students to listen to a synthesised voice reading out text on each page.

It also features a variety of different text sizes and colours, making pages easier to read.

"The student has to research a lot of material, so it is important they can easily download information," said Peter Bryenton, the city college's IT trainer.

"What also impresses about this system is that it is easy for members of staff to use, too, allowing them to put information and coursework on the website for the students to access."

The site can be accessed by students as well as visually-impaired people from outside the college.

It also complies with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), introduced in October, which requires organisations to make websites accessible to disabled people.

Mr Bryenton believes the new system could point the way for businesses to follow.

"Top of our list of priorities was complying with the new legislation and ensuring that the website was easier to use for students," he said.

"But I think the DDA will have a positive impact on the web.

"Interestingly, the sort of content we will be putting on our website will be clearer to view for all because it is better structured and easier to navigate.

"So there may be lessons to learn for all businesses and organisations here."

The CREATE system was developed by Sutton Coldfield-based Blue Spheres, after a Disability Rights Commission survey found 80 per cent of websites were impossible for disabled people to use.