Hundreds of underprivileged people in Africa, India and Eastern Europe will have a brighter vision of the future thanks to the efforts of a Beccles optical group.

Observatory the Opticians had offered its customers significant discounts throughout the autumn in return for their old glasses.

A total of 980 pairs of spectacles were collected across Observatory’s three practices, which also includes branches in Southwold and Ipswich.

The collected spectacles will be handed to sight charity Lions International.

The charity will sort the glasses and those suitable will be sent overseas to places like Ghana and Nigeria.

Medical professionals will provide eye examinations and treatments to those who have never had access to eye care.

Following the eye examination spectacles are provided where appropriate. Those that are not suitable for re-use are recycled with the money going back to Lions International.

Lions clubs have been supporting eye care projects at home and abroad since the 1970s.

Jacqui Sayer, practice manager at the Beccles practice, said: “We have been offering these trade-in deals for several years now and are proud of our commitment to this cause.

“The spectacles will be helping underprivileged people overseas who simply do not have access to health and eye care which many of us have come to take for granted in this country.

“Most of the glasses returned are of a very high quality so they will really make a difference to the lives of so many people.”

Margaret Conway, Lions Club sight officer said: “The Lions Clubs have run many sight projects over the years, restoring sight to some people as well as enabling many more to have improved vision. The old spectacles really can help.”