A VALE man who spends his working days helping people to see more clearly is now taking his skills to the third world to do the same.

Pershore optometrist Andrew Brady is travelling to Ethiopia in May to work for the charity Vision Aid Overseas.

Andrew, who works in Boots opticians in Worcester, Cirencester and Kidderminster, will be part of a six-person team aiming to improve the lives of thousands in the African country who suffer with poor eyesight and cannot get the help they need.

The project will last just over two weeks with Andrew arriving on May 13 and staying until May 29.

He said: "It's amazing how easily we take spectacles for granted in the UK. Even if you are short- sighted or long-sighted it's virtually impossible to consider your condition a disability.

"There are opticians on every high street in the country and almost nobody in the UK would ever go without. In Ethiopia many people, especially youngsters, are severely disabled by poor eyesight and I am very excited about the opportunity to help these people."

Vision Aid Overseas is a charity dedicated to helping people who suffer from long or short sight but are unable to receive optical treatment. In Ethiopia the problem is rife as there are no fully qualified optometrists in the country.

In his first week, Andrew will be training nurses in basic eye-testing techniques and in the second week the team is travelling to some of the poorest parts of Ethiopia to set up clinics and test people's eyes, giving the nurses a chance to test their training.

For information on Vision Aid Overseas call 01293 535016 or visit www.vao.org.uk.