A HAMPSHIRE airport have raised over £2k for a global blindness charity.

Southampton Airport have raised £2,658.74 pounds for Orbis UK this year, which will help support sight-saving work in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The airport, which has supported Orbis since 2014, hosts a foreign currency globe in its departure lounge.

Individuals travelling through the busy airport are able to make donations using the currency of their choice.

Neil Garwood, managing director at Southampton Airport, said: “We are delighted to hear that Orbis were able to raise more than £2600 through the globe in our Departures Lounge.

"It’s a great charity, and we would like to thank all of our passengers for their generous donations.”

This year’s haul weighed 150kg and since 2014, a total of £10,035.63 has been raised through the partnership.

Seventy five percent of visual impairment globally is avoidable, with most of those affected living in developing countries.

Orbis, which operates the world’s only Flying Eye Hospital on board an MD-10 aircraft, trains and mentors local eye care teams and educates communities on eye health issues.

Previously, proceeds raised have gone towards supporting the treatment of babies and children suffering with cataracts in Zambia.

Nilly Sutton, head of corporate partnerships at Orbis, said: “We are delighted that Southampton Airport have continued to support Orbis UK through the foreign currency globe.

"We would like to thank every passenger and staff member for their generosity over the years, which will enable us to give the gift of sight to even more people around the world.”