AN optical store is urging customers and the public to donate old and unwanted glasses for use overseas.

Staff at Specsavers in Charter Walk, Burnley, will be taking part in Random Acts of Kindness Week from next Monday, and have chosen Vision Aid Overseas as their good cause.

Donated glasses are revamped then sold to help the charity’s work, providing eye tests and treatment in developing countries.

Store director David Cleasby said eyecare was something the UK took for granted. He added: “For people in developing countries this is not the case – children are unable to finish their education, parents cannot work to support their families and some grandparents have never seen their grandchildren.

“In some cases all they need is an eye test and a pair of glasses.

“By simply bringing your old specs to us you can complete an easy act of kindness.”

The link-up between the firm and charity over the past decade has seen an optometry school opened in Zambia and £370,000 and 250,000 pairs of spectacles collected.