THE Okehampton branch of Specsavers has collected almost 1,000 glasses in just three months for the charity Vision Aid Overseas (VAO).

Staff at the store have been asking people to donate their old and unused glasses to the charity, which provides eyecare services for people in Zambia.

Store director Kath Dandy said: 'We're so grateful for the generosity of Okehampton residents. We collected a total of 966 pairs of glasses.

'We're keen to hit the 1,000 mark and keep up this drive by encouraging more people to donate. It's important that we provide opportunities for those who don't have access to good quality eyecare services.'

VAO works in Africa to transform access to eyecare services and is part of the Vision 2020 initiative to eliminate avoidable blindness by 2020. Since 2003 Specsavers stores have collected and recycled more than a quarter of a million glasses for the charity, and have raised over £550,000.

This money has helped a number of projects including solely funding an eyecare clinic in the Zambian capital Lusaka, which was officially opened by Specsavers founder Dame Mary Perkins.

To donate visit Specsavers on Fore Street, call 01837 650 970 or visit http://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/okehampton">www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/okehampton.