A pensioner is alarmed that a support charity that cares for her and nearly 3,000 other blind people is about to lose its office.

Oxfordshire Association for the Blind supports 2,750 blind and partially sighted people from its premises at Rivermead Rehabilitation Centre, Abingdon Road.

Among them is 84-year-old Mary Walton, who began to lose her sight three years ago. She says she is very perturbed about the charity's future.

She has asked Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson for help in securing the group a temporary base until a permanent site is developed.

The NHS-owned Rivermead site, renowned for treating head injuries and strokes, is earmarked for redevelopment. The OAB has to move in April or May, but another site has yet to be finalised.

Mrs Walton, of Chilswell Road, Oxford, suffers from macular degeneration.

She has been blind for a year and relies heavily on the association.

Mrs Walton said: "I feel very distressed. I even had the cheek to write to Richard Branson to see if he had some buildings we could use. He lives in Kidlington.

"I haven't had a reply yet."

Mr Branson was unavailable for comment last night.

The assoication's director, Laurence Cummins, confirmed the charity was looking for 2,000 to 3,000sq ft of temporary office accommodation in Oxford.

He said a £900,000 scheme for a purpose-built centre on land owned by social services in Blenheim Road, Kidlington, was "back at square one" after Cherwell District Council made a tree preservation order on a crucial part of the site.