SHOPPERS are helping villagers in Africa to see more clearly through a recycling project.

A campaign inviting people to donate old and unused glasses has been hailed a huge success.

Specsavers opticians in Runcorn received more than 5,000 pairs and the Widnes store collected more than 2,500.

Founded in 1985, Vision Aid Overseas has been helping some of the poorest people in the world to see properly for more than 30 years.

The charity’s mission is to enable people living in poverty to access affordable glasses and eyecare.

All the collected glasses are recycled and the money raised is used to help provide optical services in developing countries.

Runcorn store director Chris Graham said: “The campaign has been a massive success thanks to our very kind and generous customers bringing in their old glasses. Every single one will make a difference.

‘In a country where opticians’ services are readily available, such as the UK, it is easy to take our vision for granted.

“In poorer parts of the world where people don’t have access to eyecare services, these donations and Vision Aid Overseas can make a significant impact on people’s lives.”

Specsavers has supported this international eyecare charity since 2008.

The group has raised more than £600,000 for Zambian eye care including an optometry technologists training course at the Chainama College of Health Sciences in Lusaka, 10 staffed vision centres across Zambia and a national eyecare outreach programme.