An Abingdon optician has returned from a mission to Africa to help restore the sight of hundreds of locals.

Lucy Waldron, who works at the Abingdon branch of Specsavers, in Bury Street, travelled with seven other opticians to Burkina Faso, where they tested the eyes of more than 300 people in Ouagadougou.

She also took with her many spectacles donated by Abingdon customers.

Ms Waldron said: “It was a really rewarding trip, especially in cases where the spectacles made a big difference to the patient.

“Some locals had undergone surgery for cataracts but had not been given appropriate glasses to wear to support the surgery, so the glasses we gave them dramatically improved their sight.”

The trip was part of a project organised by Vision Aid Overseas.

Michael Nixon, store director of Specsavers in Abingdon, said: “It’s fantastic to see that the glasses donated by our customers have gone to good use rather than just being thrown away.”