"WATCH my lips" can mean much more to some people than others.

For the deaf or hard of hearing might not hear the words but clearly understand their meaning.

Lip reading can do much to make life easier for people with a hearing problem.

There are more than 7,000 in Herefordshire, with about 600 having serious deafness and the rest with more moderate difficulties.

Lip reading can help many of them and most manage to learn a little as life goes by.

But a little help from teachers goes a long way and Herefordshire Council has decided to expand its lip reading courses in the county.

They are being offered free of charge, unlike some areas where the fees can be £60 for a course.

There always have been lip reading classes. When Ray Davies came to Herefordshire in 1988 as a specialist social worker linked to the deaf and hard of hearing, she started classes and trained others to do the same.

In 1999, she came out of retirement to help Sheila Harper carry on the classes.

And she is delighted Herefordshire Council, through its Lifelong Learning policy, has made funds available to expand the service.

Mrs Davies plans to take a back seat but is pleased that Sheila Harper and Kathy Bristow, who has completed her training, will continue to teach lip reading in the county.

She knows that it is not a magic cure for deafness and benefits some people more than others.

Much of the success lies in the lips of people doing the talking. It is obvious that men who cover their lips with a moustache, or people who barely open their mouths when speaking, communicate little.

"But lip reading does help," said Mrs Davies, who should know, being partially deaf herself.

Sue Cobourne, who is the council's learning development officer, said people attending the courses would not only learn to lip read but would find out more about the support services available to them.

Lip reading classes for beginners are planned for Hereford, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye plus a progression course in Hereford.

All beginners classes in Hereford, Leominster and Ross on Wye will be held on Tuesdays. At Ross, the classes will be at the Ryefield Centre, Grammar School Close, from 10am-2pm, at Leominster at Eaton Close Community Centre, from 2-4pm and at Hereford, at Riverside Community Learning Centre at 26 Vicarage Road from 6-8pm.

The progression class at Hereford is on Mondays at Westfield Community Centre, Highmore Street, from 2-4pm. Classes start on Monday, September 19. Anyone interested can enrol by calling Ray Davies on 01981 500473 or Sheila Harper on 01531 632030.

For more health news turn to this week's Hereford Times