CHARD Rotary Club members have boosted an appeal to improve the sight of deprived people in Africa by donating money for much-needed equipment.

The club gave £600 to South Petherton-based charity Akamaba Aid Fund to buy a slit lamp, which helps detect eye diseases such as cataracts and conjunctivitis.

Chard optometrist Ben Williams, a partner at Robert Frith, plans to use the machine when he visits Kenya with the charity at the end of the month.

He said: “The lamp is an important piece of equipment and can cost up to £4,000 brand new but luckily we found a second hand one much cheaper.

“We’d like to extend our gratitude to the rotary club for all their support.”

Ben added that he has received hundreds of pairs of spectacle to take on his trip following a News-backed plea.

“We’ve had a really good response to the appeal and thank everyone who donated glasses,” he said.

Pictured is Chard Rotary Club member John Wright (left) presenting the equipment to optometrist Ben Williams on Friday.