Staff at the two Specsavers stores in Cheltenham have donated £1,200 to help ensure vital oxygen supplies are available to those who need it in India.

The stores in the town centre and Sainsbury's on Gallagher Retail Park have joined Specsavers stores throughout the UK who have rallied together as a response to the ongoing Covid crisis and to show support for the Oxygen for India appeal.

In total, Specsavers has raised £210,000. The Cheltenham teams and other store partners from across the country came together to raise £150,000, and the group contributed a further £60,000 to the cause.

Melanie Brackstone, store director at the two Specsavers Cheltenham stores, said: "We've all seen the pictures from India and we wanted to do something to help. The response to the pandemic requires global action; everyone has been affected in some way in the last 15 months and as a team we felt it was important to show our support."

Terry Weldon, Melanie's co-director, added: "It's fantastic to see so many stores coming together to help and we're proud to be part of it."

Paul Marshall, Specsavers managing director, said: "The money will be provided to two charities both actively involved in supporting this appeal - the British Asian Trust's Oxygen for India emergency appeal and The Hope Foundation charity which our Irish partners have close links with and will support.

"These incredible sums raised will be put to work supporting the appeal and helping India in its hour of need.

"I am enormously proud of how quickly and passionately our store partners have responded. It is a testament to the care and compassion that Specsavers and is globally recognised for."