THOUSANDS of pairs of glasses are on their way to Africa, thanks to the generosity of shoppers in Darlington.
Specsavers' opticians, on High Row, has been collecting unwanted specs for the Vision Aid Overseas charity, which sends them on to developing countries where people do not have access to, or cannot afford, eye care.
After launching the appeal at the beginning of November, the store has been inundated with thousands of pairs of glasses, dropped off by charitable customers.
Vision Aid Overseas, set up in 1985, operates the largest spectacle recycling scheme in the country.
Glasses are distributed to nine African countries, as well as India, Peru and Vietnam.
The charity also sends teams of volunteer optometrists and dispensing opticians abroad to screen patients and hand out the specs.
Darlington Specsavers store manager Alan Moylan said: "People have always been generous in donating old specs, but we have never had such a great response as this before."
"These specs will now be transported to Third World countries, where they will be used to literally change people's lives. Everyone who's donated a pair has given a fantastic Christmas gift to someone less fortunate."
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