GENEROUS walkers across Hampshire have helped raise more than £9,500 for charity.

About 50 men and women took part in sponsored walks in aid of Southampton General Hospital's Eye Unit.

Organisers Mary and John Jordan handed a cheque to Professor Andrew Lotery for the Gift of Sight Appeal.

The money will go towards research into finding a cure for macular degeneration, a disease that causes blindness and affects one in three elderly people in the UK.

Gift of Sight development manager, Trudy Gough, said: "We are absolutely delighted with the donation. They did a phenomenal job raising that amount in just two walks. It is the biggest single contribution we have had so far."

The two eight-mile walks around Ampsfield, North Baddesley and Chand-ler's Ford took place in October this year.