A CHARITY is welcoming visitors to its new headquarters -- providing they like messy surroundings.

The team at Vision Aid has been battling for months to try to transform its new headquarters in Deane, but they have had many problems renovating the large detached house and had to ask visitors to keep away after the building was declared unsafe.

But the charity, which provides support for visually impaired youngsters throughout the country, is opening the premises to receive visitors.

Earlier this year the charity discovered the three-storey house in Junction Road needed a new roof.

Now the 100-year-old building is beginning to take shape and look like a new headquarters after the removal of scaffolding.

The charity has also received a £2,500 donation from charity magazine, Candis.

Vision Aid development officer Jo Welbon, who is visually impaired and found the delay moving in particularly frustrating as it meant her guide dog Natalie was not allowed in, said: "We are still living out of boxes, but with the carpets the place looks gorgeous!"