The government was today urged to make more books available for blind and partially sighted people and those with reading disabilities.

A petition signed by 30,000 people was presented to Downing Street this lunchtime which urged ministers to do more to increase the availability of literature in braille, large print or on in audio formats.

It also called for VAT to be scrapped on audio books, and for publishers to provide more electronic versions of books to charities to improve the production of publication in accessible formats

The petition, which was presented by blind and partially sighted children and adults, was organised by the Right to Read Alliance - a coalition of 17 organisations including the National Library for the Blind, the British Dyslexia Association and Royal National Institute of the Blind.

As part of the campaign, RNIB research revealed that less than 4.5% of books are made available in formats accessible to visually impaired people.

The campaign claims this amounts to discrimination against three million people who are currently being denied the right to read.

An opinion poll by the National Library for the Blind conducted last month found that 72% of people agree that "the government should take the responsibility for ensuring blind and partially sighted people have the same access to books as sighted people".