An eye scanner has been unveiled in Warminster Community Hospital, thanks to a series of bequests made by town residents.

The Friends of Warminster Hospital presented a new Visual Field Analyser to the Outpatients Department, for use in weekly Ophthalmology Clinics conducted by visiting consultants.

The equipment, worth £12,000, was accepted by Roger Humphry, a consultant ophthalmologist at Salisbury District Hospital.

Mr Humphry praised the innovation and said: “Using this touch-screen, video eye monitor provides early indications of eye diseases.

“The convenience of having the equipment in the Community Hospital will also result in many patients no longer having to travel to Salisbury or the Royal United Hospital in Bath for ophthalmology appointments.”

Charles Lane, chairman of the Friends of Warminster Hospital, said he was happy with how well the equipment was received and was looking forward to its future potential for staff and patients.

Also at the launch was Liz Diacon who is registered blind and has founded the local support service for visually impaired persons (VIPs) in Warminster Library.

Following a diagnosis from consultants, VIP volunteers provide aid and advice to give patients a morale boost.

Mrs Diacon said at the time: “This bringing together of both professional and voluntary bodies, intent on improving the lot of VIPs, is all to the good.”

The Friends of Warminster Hospital was able to make the donation due to legacies left by Warminster residents.