WOULD you recognise the symptoms if your child developed eye problems? Few people would realise that excessive blinking, squinting and even poor performance at school can all be signs of vision problems.

Specsavers in Okehampton recently launched a competition to raise awareness of eye health among children at Okehampton Primary School.

Children were asked to design their own Mr Men character, and Ian Wills, store director of Specsavers Okehampton, presented Mr Men goodies to the winners at a school assembly.

Ian said: 'We recommend children have their eyes tested regularly. Parents seem to think schools arrange this and that it is carried out in school, but it isn't.

'One in five children have an undetected eye problem, and as 80% of a child's learning occurs visually, we need to detect and treat these problems as soon as possible.

'We don't mind which opticians people visit — this isn't about making money — we just want parents to be aware of the importance of children's eye care.'

Children's eye tests are free, and some children's spectacles are free at Specsavers.