BASINGSTOKE Lions Club have had another successful year with their World Sight Day glasses collection.

The Lions set up a stall in The Malls on the actual day itself of Thursday, 11 October, to collect old glasses and provide information about eye conditions as well as supporting several eyesight-based charities.

A grand total of 1,662 pairs of glasses were donated to the stall, making it one of the most successful World Sight Day events of recent years for the Lions.

The specs will be donated to charity, where they will be given to people abroad who would otherwise not have them.

Ann Vicars, one of the organisers, said: “Once again the good people of Basingstoke, local opticians and sight loss organisations rose to the annual call from the Basingstoke Lions Club and produced a record haul of superfluous spectacles at the Club’s stand.

“Additionally, several visitors to the stand received advice and information regarding their own sight loss issues or that of their loved ones. The organisers are deeply grateful to all concerned, specifically The Malls, Vision Express, Leightons, Boots, Open Sight, The Macular Society and radio and print media - and of course to their own ‘Lennie the Lion’ who, as can be seen, made a few friends that day.”