HEADS were turned when workers from a famous Bolton pastie shop donned pyjamas to raise cash for charity.

Staff at Ye Olde Pastie Shop on Churchgate were far from sleepy when they donned their nightwear for the stunt on Saturday.

They shoppers to cough up cash for Bolton-based charity Vision Aid as they bought their lunchtime pasties.

The shop hopes to have raised at least £200.

It has become a race against time for the bosses of the charity who must reach a target of £400,000 before the end of December to buy and convert new premises in Deane.

They have been told the lease on their existing building in Chorley New Road will expire on December 22.

It has meant a dash for cash following a frantic search for a new HQ.

Marie Walsh, part-owner of Ye Olde Pastie Shoppe and vice-chairman of Vision Aid, said: "It is a race against time to find the money. We have come up with a variety of events already.

"The girls have been brilliant in agreeing to come in with pyjamas on. A few men have said they would look better in skimpy nighties."

The new centre in Deane will continue the work of Vision Aid and also contain a toy library for blind children to take home toys which suited to their needs, as well as a vision stimulation room.

The charity, whose patron is the Duke of Westminster, has already helped 33,000 children and their families throughout the UK.

It was set up 18 years ago by Lesley Green, who found there was a lack of support for families with blind children after the birth of her daughter Kyllie.

Kyllie, now 19, has become an inspirational role model for other teenagers and children with a sight disability by passing her A-levels this year and gaining a place at university.

She is to study a science degree which will be especially difficult for her because she will not be able to see the experiments she is expected to conduct for her course.