A SWINDON man has been selected from hundreds of people across the region as a semi-finalist in the Specsavers’ Spectacle Wearer of the Year competition.

Keith Harcourt Jukes who is 68 and from North Swindon, entered the competition after he spotted it on Facebook and uploaded a picture he’d taken on holiday. The keen golfer used to serve in the air force which took him all over the world before working in local government for 35 years. Keith now lives in Spain for four to five months of the year at his daughter’s house in Torrevieja.

"I was shocked but really pleased when I’d found out I was a regional semi-finalist," he said. "I first started wearing glasses 15 years ago to correct my short sightedness but now they really feel like they’re a big part of who I am. I like to buy the very best glasses I can afford and have received some lovely compliments from people which is always nice."

During a visit to his local Specsavers in Regent Street, Keith received a bottle of champagne, a certificate and a £150 voucher and is now in with a chance of winning £10,000 along with a luxury holiday for two to New York and a glasses wardrobe from Specsavers worth £1,000.

Store director David Grieves said: "It’s great to have someone from Swindon reach this stage of the competition and we would like to wish Keith the very best of luck – we’ll be crossing our fingers he makes it through to the final."

The awards were launched by former Pussycat Doll, Kimberly Wyatt, earlier this year. If he triumphs in his age category, Keith could meet Kimberly and other stars at the celeb-packed awards ceremony at London’s 8 Northumberland Avenue in October.

For more information, visit Specsavers at 62/63 Regent Street, Swindon, SN1 1J, call 01793 617858 or go to www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/swindon