A FORMER Army signalman from Swanage is raising money for a national veterans’ charity by decorating his home in Christmas lights.

Steve Claxton, 79, who lives on Hoburne Road, is collecting money for Blind Veterans UK as a way of thanking them for their support through his battle with losing his sight.

Steve, who was in the Royal Corps of Signals for three years from 1953, said that joining the charity was the ‘best thing I’ve ever done’, after losing his sight when an operation went wrong 23 years ago.

It is the 11th year that he and wife, Brenda, have put on the special festive-themed lights display at with all donations made by visitors going to Blind Veterans UK and local charity, Cancare.

Steve said: “I cannot speak highly enough of Blind Veterans UK. Through their support, I have enjoyed some excellent respite breaks at its centres and learnt some great new skills. I have done an IT course which has helped me enormously with being able to use a computer.”

For more information on Blind Veterans UK’s No One Alone campaign, go to Noonealone.org.uk