OPTICIANS are urging people in Ilkley and Otley to donate their old, unwanted glasses to their New Year appeal, which aims to improve the eye health of those less fortunate in the developing world.

Ilkley and Otley Specsavers collected more than 1,100 pairs of glasses for Vision Aid Overseas in 2014 and will continue to collect frames over the coming year. Customers can get involved in the appeal by dropping their old frames into the in-store collection bins, which will then be donated to Vision Aid Overseas.

The glasses are recycled and the money raised is used to fund the charity’s work in developing countries. This includes giving people much needed eye tests and treatment, and training up local optometrists.

The international charity is committed to providing eyecare for people living in Zambia. Previously, there had been very limited provision for the one in four Zambians who desperately require it, with just a handful of qualified optometrists serving the 12 million population.

Roger Copley, store director at Otley and Ilkley Specsavers, said: “In Britain we are used to having access to excellent eyecare on our high streets but most people in Zambia are not as lucky so it’s important we do what we can to improve eye health there.

“There must be thousands of spare specs lying around in drawers around the country that are no longer of use to their owners. All donations are welcome.”

For information about Vision Aid Overseas, visit vao.org.uk.