THE Devon In Sight Roadshow was a real eye opener for visitors to Tavistock Town Hall on Friday.

Offering all sorts of useful advice, practical support and services to those suffering from sight loss or visual impairment it is organised by Topsham-based charity Devon in Sight.

The roadshow brought together charities, including Action for Blind and Guide Dogs for the Blind, suppliers of visual aids, related businesses, and a number of local volunteer groups, such as Tavistock Lions, Plymouth and West Devon Talking Newspapers, St John Ambulance and Tavistock Macular Society.

Ben Gavan, outreach activities worker for Devon In Sight, said: 'We try to organise events so it involves as many local individuals and groups in the community as possble, who can help those who are visually impaired.

'This is our first time in Tavistock and we have had a good response with positive feedback.

'A lot of people we meet with visual impairments do not know the full range of services and equipment available to them, anyone of which can make such a difference to their lives.'

BBC television's 'Dad's Army' star Bill Pertwee, who is a patron of Devon in Sight and lives in Topsham, attended the event in support of the charity, which he says does a 'fantastic' job.

Mr Pertwee, who played Air Raid Warden Hodges in the popular wartime-based series, was provided with a special 'Don't Panic' cup by caterers of 'More Tea Vicar?' who provided the refreshments, with the soundtrack of a vintage gramophone in the background.

To add to the atmosphere Mike Lyall, from Bere Alston, and a member of the Military Vehicle Trust stood 'guard' with his 1942 American Jeep outside the entrance on Bedford Square.

One of the many exhibitors was the Plymouth and West Devon Talking Newspapers based in Tavistock.

The group has 85 volunteers and helps provide weekly tapes of local news, much from the Tavistock, Okehampton, East Cornwall and Princetown Times, for more than 170 visually impaired listeners in West Devon, Plymouth and South East Cornwall.

Each week members, from their studio in Abbey Place, record the local and national news on a Thursday, copy onto a tape or CD on Friday and deliver to listeners on a Saturday.

For more information on Devon in Sight go to its website devoninsight.org.uk