A CHARITY with its roots near Ellesmere recently celebrated a milestone birthday with a VIP event in Shrewsbury.

Sight Loss Shropshire celebrated its 100th birthday in style at a large party held at the home of Shrewsbury Town on Friday, May 20.

Around 160 guests who are blind or have severe sight loss, met at the ground to enjoy entertainment and a birthday lunch, coming from all over Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin.

The charity, now called Sight Loss Shropshire, was founded on May 22,1922, as the Shropshire Voluntary Association for the Blind.

Chairman Diana Flint, who is from Dudleston near Ellesmere, said: “For 100 years the charity has dedicated itself to improving the quality of life for people with sight loss, wherever they might live in Shropshire and whatever their age.

"It’s wonderful to be here to celebrate 100 years of good work, and to be able to look forward to the next 100 years.”

Robin Durham, the charity’s chief officer, said: “It’s great we have so many people enjoying this special day and sharing the company of people the charity was created to help.”

The party was helped with a 'brilliant' cake from Ellesmere business Moolah.

The charity promises to help visually-impaired people to cope with their sight loss and the difficulties this imposes on their daily lives.

It also supports people to help reduce social isolation for visually impaired people by providing information about and access to social, physical and creative activities aimed at enhancing physical and mental well being.

For more about the charity or to help donate, head to sightlossshropshire@shropshire.gov.uk