BRIDGWATER'S Tayen Gilbert is to appear in a TV programme over the weekend highlighting the work of a charity which has helped her rediscover her love of books.

Tayen, known as Tots to family and friends, lost her sight aged 22 months as a result of tumours on her optic nerves and has learned to read thanks to help from books produced by the Living Paintings charity, which will be featured in Sunday's show, on BBC1.

Due to be broadcast at 3.45pm, the special appeal will be hosted by actor and musician Martin Kemp and featuring seven-year-old Tots and her family.

Mum Kali said: “Reading had been central to our children’s lives from very early on – Tots has three big, loving brothers - but for a long time, through illness, hospitalisation and then total blindness, Tots was simply too unwell to even enjoy any kind of book.

"Thanks to Living Paintings, Tots has genuinely re-discovered her love of books.

"She is able to sit with a Living Paintings book, with her brothers - it’s something they can share, which is very special. The boys tell her what they can see, they read the story together and Tots feels the tactile pictures.

"To see them sitting there and sharing an activity together is really beautiful and something I thought we’d find really difficult as a family."

The appeal is also for Living Painting’s nationwide network of book clubs, which help reduce isolation experienced by many blind and visually impaired adults, while inspiring them with stories, paintings, topical content and arts and craft activities.

Martin, best known as a 1980s pop icon and for his role as Steve Owen in EastEnders, is now treading the boards as Billy Flynn in West End hit Chicago.

And he said he had a special link with the appeal.

"In 1995, I was diagnosed with two brain tumours which meant that I was in real danger of losing my sight," he said.

"It was the one thing I feared the most and is a fear I carry with me today.

"Living Paintings is a fantastic charity working hard to produce Touch-to-See books and bringing stories to life for everybody.

"Children like Tots clearly gain so much from the books; basically for those who are blind or who have limited vision they are really life-changing.

"I hope that through the BBC Lifeline appeal more people will hear about and support this wonderful resource."

Camilla Oldland, CEO of Living Paintings, added: “We are excited to have been nominated to benefit from the BBC Lifeline Appeal and grateful to Martin for sharing his time and talents.

"I am proud of our 30-year history bringing books and paintings to life for thousands of people of all ages.

"To do this we rely on a huge amount of goodwill, from authors and publishers, through to volunteers who create, paint and distribute the books to our members.

"None of this would happen without the generosity of donors and we are so grateful for all donations."

The BBC Lifeline appeal for Living Paintings will be shown on BBC1 at 3.45pm on Sunday, with the programme available on BBC iPlayer following the broadcast. A further screening will be on BBC2 at 1pm on Wednesday, July 25.