The petition demands an immediate pause on the withdrawal of the BBC red button Teletext service which is due to be phased out from this Thursday. In a report from the BBC, the first changes to the red button are in place for the coming days with the service likely to close over the next “few weeks”, according to an unnamed spokesperson. It added that its withdrawal “will leave many people, who are already vulnerable, further isolated and marginalised from society”. The NFBUK said the service is critical for people “who want to find out information independently in an easy, convenient and accessible format”.

The petition has been organised by the National Federation of the Blind of the UK (NFBUK), urging decision makers to consider how “vital” the red button is for those with limited sight, hearing impairments and those who have no access to the internet. Protesters have handed a petition to the UK government and the BBC over the latter’s plans to switch off Red Button services in the coming weeks. Interactive services: Petition to save red button

Bbc red button