STAFF at the Outside Clinic in Swindon have handed a cheque over to Hearing Dogs UK during a visit from a patient with hearing loss.

Volunteer and organiser at the charity, Linda Buckland, from Swindon, came to pick up the cheque for £590 with her own hearing aid, a three-year-old Labrador called Fidgey.

The money was donated after a patient of the clinic passed away and the company offered to refund the cost of their hearing aid.

The patient’s carers asked the clinic to donate it to a charity of their choice, because of the good customer service, and staff invited Linda in.

Linda, who has had hearing loss since she was nine years old, spoke about the importance of her work with the charity: “Even with my hearing aids in during the day I still can’t hear the doorbell, the oven timer or the washing machine when it finishes.

“I wouldn’t be without my hearing aids at all but I wouldn’t be without Fidgey either. The two together work perfectly.

“She has been incredible, she has given me a lot of confidence, and I am much more relaxed now when I am talking to people.

“Every penny counts. I’m happy to help with the fundraising because Fidgey and all the other hearing dogs are worth it.”

The charity is close to the hearts of many at The Outside Clinic, which provides home optometry and audiology services to 100,000 patients across the UK from its headquarters in Old Town.

Lynda Oliver, head of HR, marketing and media, said: “This much-loved charity holds a special place for staff, as a member of the audiology team used to regularly bring in her hearing dog, so we know what a vital lifeline these specially selected and trained dogs can be.

“We were so inspired that we helped sponsor two puppies - Nutmeg who is about to pass his Four-Star Puppy award, and Jade, who is a great little girl and progressing well too.”