A GRAYS optician raised £245 for Guide Dogs Week with the help of a special visit from Guide Dogs charity ambassadors.

The ambassadors came along to the Specsavers in Grays Shopping Centre with dogs, Buster, Shannon and Dolly while the store carried out a fundraising initiative in aid of the charity during its annual awareness week.

The store also distributed 176 high visibility jackets to children on the day to promote road safety as the end of British Summertime approaches. Niki Kaur, store director at Specsavers in Grays, said: “A Guide Dog costs around £50,000 throughout its life, and provides priceless mobility and freedom to someone who is blind or partially sighted.

“As eyecare specialists, we’re proud that the money raised in store will help the charity create these partnerships and fund research into eye disease. Thank you to all our visitors for joining us, and to everyone who donated so generously.”