TELE readers have been thanked for donating a record number of spectacles in just one week to help those less fortunate in the developing world.

Staff at the Specsavers store in Greenock say an appeal published in this paper led to the donation of 2,000 unwanted glasses for their charity initiative.

Lesley Brown, who is the store director at Specsavers in Greenock, said: “We are absolutely astounded at the fantastic response we’ve had since the article was published. 

“We’d like to thank the Greenock Telegraph for its help to raise awareness of our appeal as well as all the local people who generously made donations.

“It just goes to show that so many people often have old glasses that they no longer use. 

“Donating them enables Vision Aid Overseas to recycle the specs to raise money to help the charity deliver much needed eye tests and treatment in developing countries.

“Greenock is a superb, generous community and it has been a delight to see so many people stop by the store to add to our collection.”

The huge haul is almost the equivalent to the number of glasses the store typically collects in six months, having donated 2,500 to the appeal since the start of the year.