A charity for blind people in Lincoln is desperate to raise £337,000 to buy a building – but has so far raised just £5,000.

Lincoln and Lindsey Blind Society has set itself a target of raising the money by October this year.

The charity, which offers support and advice to people suffering with blindness and visual impairments, moved into a new building in Sadler Road, Lincoln, at the beginning of October.

This followed a spate of break-ins at its previous base in Boundary Road.

But the organisation is having to rent the centre at a cost of nearly £20,000 a year until they have enough cash to buy it.

Fund-raising and volunteers manager Julie Baines said: "It's almost as if it's money down the drain.

"The trouble is with big capital fundraising projects it's very it's very difficult to secure any help from trust funds."

Anne Peacock, who works as a sight impairment officer for the organisation in Lincoln, said new equipment in the centre will make a huge difference to clients.

"The new building is fabulous and we're working hard to make sure it's a centre of excellence," she said.

"We want to set up groups to include all people such as ethnic minority groups, young mums and teenagers who all have blindness or visual impairment in common."

To help fund the new centre send donations to Lincoln and Lindsey Blind Society, Bradbury House, Ramsgate, Louth, LN11 0NB or call Julie Baines on (01507) 605604.

For the full story see Tuesday's Lincolnshire Echo.