AN eye surgeon has got on his bike to raise more than £1,000 for a Save Our Sight appeal.

Chrisjan Dees, who is an ophthalmic consultant for South Durham Health Care NHS Trust, aims to cycle from his Middleton St George home to an eye clinic at Bishop Auckland General Hospital each month until the Darlington appeal ends.

Sponsored by colleagues and his patients, he hopes to raise money to put towards the appeal to buy a £60,000 specialist digital camera to detect eye problems in people with diabetes.

Mr Dees said: "I made the journey last month and it took about one-and-a-half hours, but it's not that bad really. I try to cycle into work at Darlington twice a week, weather permitting, and I take my children out on their bikes in the summertime. I really quite enjoy it."

The Save our Sight appeal is already half-way towards its target and more fundraising events are to take place over the next few months.

The specialist camera will help detect the early stages of diabetic retinopathy - the commonest cause of blindness in people of working age.

It will be used in both Darlington and Bishop Auckland hospitals.