THE Lord Mayor of York has opened a new headquarters for a charity which helps more than 1,000 blind and partially sighted people across the York area.

More than 100 supporters, friends, trustees and volunteers attended the official opening by Coun Irene Waudby of the York Blind and Partially Sighted Society's premises at Holgate Villa, in Holgate Road.

The society was previously based in Bootham.

Society spokeswoman Debbie Richards said: "The new premises offer level ground floor accessibility to service users, and the larger space enables the society to display a larger range of aids and equipment which can assist independent living.

"We identified an increasing need from our users to relocate to more accessible premises within the city."

The society, which is one of the Lord Mayor's two official charities for this year, has already launched a major fundraising drive to help pay for the move to the new headquarters.

Debbie said it needed to find an additional £20,000 a year to meet the cost of a higher rent.

The charity aims to help blind and partially sighted people retain their independence, and also to provide them with information and support services at the only resource centre of its kind in York.

It also offers a hospital eye clinic service, which gives support to people newly diagnosed with eye problems.

There is also a volunteer visiting service, which helped often vulnerable and isolated people in their own homes.

"We are actively fundraising in the community and working so very hard to secure the additional £20,000 per year required," she said.