THOSE most in need in Nelson have been boosted by £200 worth of donations from staff at their local Specsavers.

Staff at the Pendle Rise Shopping Centre branch rallied round to personally donate items to the collection for the local Salvation Army.

Impressed by their staff's generosity store directors, David Cleasby and Mark Addison, decided to match these donations by topping up the haul with a further £100 worth of non-perishables and vital goods.

Specsavers Nelson dispensing assistant Rahuel Massey, who organised the collection, said: "We were extremely grateful to be able to donate some much-needed food items to the local Salvation Army.

"This year more than ever we have witnessed the hardship faced by our local community.

"The pandemic will have been especially tough to those from low-income households, and we feel very strongly about doing our bit to support them.’

"The additional top-up from the two store directors was fantastic, as it helped us double our donations up to £200 value for the important cause.

"We tried to donate a varied selections of goods including cereals, cleaning products, and snacks, in order to provide the service users with all the necessary living essentials."

The Salvation Army was able to ensure that the donations went to the people who needed them most, especially those who have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic and its knock-on effects.

Meanwhile, Specsavers across East Lancashire and elsewhere in England, will stay open for all eye and hearing needs despite the national lockdown.

Under current government guidance, people are allowed to leave home to attend medical appointments, including eye and hearing tests, which are considered essential healthcare services.

If patients can’t leave home unaccompanied for an eye test, they can request a home visit from the opticians instead.

To find out more, go to: www.specsavers.co.uk/nelson.