AN ANNUAL vintage car road run has helped raise funds for a unit at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.

Saturday, June 3, saw the return of the 24th annual Vale of Avalon vintage car road run from Glastonbury to Burnham on Sea.

This year's chosen charity was the hospital's eye unit.

Almost 100 vehicles took part, ranging from 1930s Austins and a Ferrari F355 Berlinetta to a Second World War AEC Matador gun tractor and 1954 Wolseley police car.

Ed Herbert, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Musgrove Park Hospital, had the honour of sending the cars on their way.

He said: “In recent years there has been a great increase in demand for eye care, partly as a result of us all living longer and greater prevalence of conditions such as diabetes.

“Exciting developments in medicines and technology also mean we are now able to treat many conditions that until recently were untreatable.

“We want to upgrade and increase the number of 3D-retinal scanners to allow faster access to care so we can continue to treat the large number of patients that need monitoring for retinal disease and glaucoma.”

Donations can be made at justgiving.com/fundraising/Vintageroadrun, or by sending a cheque payable to ‘Love Musgrove’ to ‘Fundraising Office, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, TA2 5DA’ (state on the back of the cheque that the money is for the eye unit).