Star’s charity focus

Oldham-born celebrity Christopher Biggins has donated his favourite glasses to the Sightsavers international charity.

He has agreed to auction them to highlight the plight of those living in darkness because they need spectacles.

There are 153 million people worldwide who are blind simply because they have no glasses, the majority in developing countries.

Biggins joined 24 well-known names from the world of cinema, television, fashion and politics, including George Michael, Ewan McGregor, Sir Michael Caine, Stephen Fry and Kate Silverton, who have also lent their support to Sightsavers by donating their old glasses which are now being auctioned online.

The “I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here” winner said: “Without my specs I would be completely lost!”

Money raised from the appeal will support the international work of Sightsavers in 33 countries across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, to prevent and cure blindness and to support those who are permanently blind and visually impaired. The auction on eBay closes on Sunday at 10am.

The lots, including Christopher Biggins’ glasses and autograph, can be viewed and bid for at www.sightsavers.org/ebay.

All glasses start from £15, the equivalent of 10 pairs of glasses in the developing world.