HELP the Aged has donated £1,000 to a campaign to buy a special camera to help people with diabetes.

An appeal by the South Durham Health Care Trust is hoping to raise £60,000 to buy a retinal photography system.

The camera will make is easier to screen people with diabetes to ensure they do not develop eye disease.

Retinopathy, a disease which caused blindness in diabetic patients, is often not detected until it is too late to take action, because it does not effect eyesight until is well developed. The camera will help detect the disease so that effective treatment can be given early.

Diabetes is more prevalent in older members of the population, with one in 20 people over the age of 65 having the condition, and one in five over 85.

In recognition of the effect on older people, committee members from Help the Aged in the region presented a cheque for £1,000 to boost the appeal.

The camera would be used by Darlington Memorial Hospital and Bishop Auckland Hospital.