A CWMBRAN hearing centre is launching a hearing aid recycling scheme to help improve the lives of children with hearing loss in developing countries.

Specsavers hearing centre in Cwmbran Shopping is collecting unwanted analogue hearing aids for Sound Seekers, a UK-registered charity that recycles the aids and takes them abroad to help improve the lives of hearing-impaired children in the developing world.

Chris Ward, hearing aid audiologist at the Specsavers Cwmbran store, said: "We are delighted to be able to play a small part in helping children in countries where preventable ear diseases are rife and audiology services and hearing aids are scarce."

The store already collects unwanted glasses for charity Vision Aid Overseas in a similar scheme that sees the specs recycled for use in developing countries.

The store has helped Specsavers collect more than a quarter of a million pairs of glasses for the charity and hopes to replicate its success with the hearing aid collection.

Mr Ward added: "Local people might have an old hearing aid around the house, which they haven't used for years. With this campaign we'd like them to drop it into our store, so they can provide a disadvantaged child in the developing world with the gift of hearing - something many of us take for granted."

Sound Seekers CEO Gary Williams said: "In the countries we work in, fewer than one in 40 people who could benefit from a hearing aid actually have one. Every single donated hearing aid counts, so we are very grateful to Specsavers in Cwmbran for supporting us."

Sound Seekers works to improve the lives of deaf children and children suffering from ear disease in the developing countries of the Commonwealth by providing specialist equipment, training and support.

For further information on Sound Seekers visit www.sound-seekers.org.uk.