RIBBLE Valley Visually Impaired Group is celebrating after receiving a mystery donation.

The group, which provides trips for blind and partially sighted people, said it had been given a ‘sizeable sum’ from an anonymous benefactor.

Ken Maidens, group chairman, said the gift would help its 16 members and carers enjoy more trips to places of educational, historical and cultural interest.

His wife, Mavis, who helps organise the trips, said: “The members of this club would like to thank most sincerely their anonymous donor for a most generous donation.”

The excursions are designed to give members a more active and fulfilling life, enabling them to experience places that they would not normally be able to visit and helping them socialise and have regular contact with other people, preventing social exclusion and isolation.

Mr Maidens said: “We would welcome anyone with eyesight problems in the Ribble Valley area to join us.

“We meet every Monday at St Michael and St John’s Church in Clitheroe and we play indoor bowling, dominoes and have a quiz, a drink and a chat.

“Every first and third Wednesday we’re out for the full day in a minibus to places of interest.”