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‘Lost for words’: Neighbours in Arnold scoop £270k in shock People’s Postcode Lottery win

Rucsandra-Ioana Moldoveanu
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‘Lost for words’: Neighbours in Arnold scoop £270k in shock People’s Postcode Lottery win

Eight lucky neighbours from Arnold were awarded a share of £270,000 in the People’s Postcode Lottery.

NG5 6RT was announced as the winning postcode on Sunday, June 12.

People's Postcode Lottery winners
PICTURED: Winners Denise Bell, 71, and Alan Shaw, 74

Seven of the neighbours won £30,000, while the eighth landed £60,000, playing with two tickets.

Following a combined win of £90,000, an elderly couple plan to finally tie the knot in Las Vegas.

Denise Bell, 71, and Alan Shaw, 74, were among eight neighbours in Arnold celebrating after their Postcode Lottery win.

The couple could not believe their luck when lottery ambassador Jeff Brazier surprised them with two five-figure cheques.

Denise won £60,000 and her partner Alan also took home a cheque for £30,000.

The pair met over 32 years ago and have been engaged for 29 years, after Alan proposed in Asda while Denise worked as a cashier on the checkouts.

They both admitted that life had got in the way, and they had delayed getting married several times but always dreamt of being wed in Las Vegas.

Denise said: “I can’t believe it… I’m lost for words.

“It’s more money than we’ve ever had.

“We’ll get married finally.

“We’ve always thought it would be amazing to be able to get married in Las Vegas.

“So, we can do that now.”

The mum-of-two, who works with disabled children and children with learning difficulties, revealed that before any weddings or holidays, the first thing she would use the winnings for is a hip replacement.

Denise said: “I can get a new hip!

“I’ve been on a waiting list for over two years, but I can now go private which will be great because I’ve been in a lot of pain recently.

“I was talking to my daughter when I was very sore last weekend and I said to her ‘I’d love to win the lottery and I could get my hip done’ and then only a few days later the Postcode Lottery are at my front door.”

Chris Adams, 47, was another winner picking up a cheque for £30,000.

He found out about his prize alongside his wife Emma and the pair were left gobsmacked after catching a glimpse of their winning cheque.

Chris said: “Oh my goodness!

“That’s a bit more than a tenner that.”

Emma added: “It’s incredible we really weren’t expecting that.”

The dad-of-two said he’d be taking his family on a “fantastic”, long-awaited holiday abroad using some of the winnings.

Emma, who works as a teacher at a local primary school, laughed in disbelief and added: “The kids have yet to go on an aeroplane.

“We’ve been promising them for a long time and it can finally happen.”

The couple are also in the early process of improving their garden and said that the cash windfall would help them to totally transform their back garden.

Chris said: “We’re going to have a much-improved man cave and a much-improved patio.

“We’ll also probably have grass instead of a meadow or a jungle as it is now.”

Arnold local and Nottingham Forest fan Paul Hovell, 57, said he did not think this year could get much better after his beloved Nottingham Forest were promoted to the Premier League until he won the lottery.

The dad-of-two, who bagged £30,000, said: “That’s a lot of money to us.

“We need a holiday after the last few years and soever, this will really give us a great holiday.

“It feels fantastic to know that our close friends and neighbours have won something, it’s something quite special.”

Susan Harrison, 61, also scooped £30,000 and said that the win could make her upcoming holiday to Italy extra special.

Susan said: “We’re going to Italy next week and we’ve planned to go to Venice for the day and now I’ll be able to go on a gondola which is something I’ve always wanted to do.”

The mum-of-two, who worked at a bank for over 43 years before retiring last year, said: “This money will mean I can enjoy my retirement even more and we can splash out a bit and I can also treat my daughters.”

Another £30,000 winner is Colin Barrett, 59, who was joined by his wife Mandy for the surprise.

Shortly after finding out about his cash windfall, Colin said: “We are a family on the street and, it’s just nice to see other people having a bit of luck in life.”

The pair recently retired and said the cash will go towards making their retirement even sweeter.

Colin said: “What was going to be a nice retirement just got a lot nicer and we’ll be more comfortable.

“It’s the icing on the cake.”

People’s Postcode Lottery was created to raise funds for charities in Britain and beyond.

Players of the lottery have now raised more than £900 million for thousands of good causes.

Everyday throughout the June draws, one postcode will be announced as a £30,000 prize winner.

All the players in the postcode will win £30,000 for every ticket they hold.

To find out more, visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk.

Parents in Gedling ‘angry’ over primary school uniform change at ‘difficult time’

Rucsandra-Ioana Moldoveanu
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Parents in Gedling ‘angry’ over primary school uniform change at ‘difficult time’

Parents and carers of children attending Stanhope Primary School in Gedling have recently been informed about a change of colour in the school’s uniform.

A letter has been emailed to parents and guardians by the school detailing the change, as well as other aspects such as the school structure for the coming academic year, nursery consultation, and gate times.

The uniform, which is currently red, will change to navy or dark green at the start of the Autumn term.

Parents can vote on the colour they most prefer from today (June 13) and will be informed of the final decision on Wednesday.

However, they have criticised this decision, questioning the timing of the change, amid rising concerns regarding the soaring of the cost of living.

Ben Hemstock, whose two daughters, aged seven and nine, both attend Stanhope revealed he has voiced his concerns to the school’s headteacher.

He said: “The current economic climate has seen families in significant financial difficulties.

“With food bank use on the rise all over the country, cost of petrol and diesel going up week on week, it’s difficult for everyone at the moment.

“Changing the colour of the uniform seems like a needless exercise in a time when none of us need the extra expense.

“Whilst it may seem a trivial amount to many people, £50-60 per child for jumpers, dresses, and tights is an extra money most cannot afford.

“I’ve spoken to several parents who have already bought uniform in the red colours and now have to hope they can return them.

“The other consideration is that siblings often pass uniform down to the younger ones.

“Clearly this won’t be possible for this year.

“I have contacted the head teacher and voiced my concerns.

“I hope that she listens to parents and understands the potential difficulties this will put onto parents.

“The odd thing is that there’s been no real reason given as to why the change is happening.

“The learning environment is developed by the skills of the teachers and pupils, not by what colour uniform the children wear.”

Another father-of-two, Matthew Winterburn, has echoed a similar opinion.

He said: “I have two children that go there, and many parents are not happy as they, as well as everyone else, are finding it hard to live day to day with rising bills.

“They don’t know where they’re going to find the money to buy all new uniforms, especially as many people pass second hand around.”

Kelly-Anne Mason, whose child is a Year 5 pupil at the school, is also disappointed with the decision.

She said: “I think it’s a bad decision from the head teacher.

“Red has been Stanhope’s identity since the day it opened.

“Also, with the cost of living going up and many people struggling, it is very poorly times.

“No thought has been put into it.”

Amanda Richards, Stanhope Primary School’s headteacher, revealed that the decision was taken at this time of the year as families are about to purchase new uniforms ready for the start of the Autumn term.

She added: “To reflect the natural, warm and friendly environment we have been working so hard to create in school, we will be changing the colour of our school uniform.

“We will keep the majority of the uniform the same e.g. trousers, skirts, PE kit etc but we will be changing the colour of the sweatshirt / cardigan / jumper/ summer dress.

“As is the case at the moment, there will be no requirement to have a school logo on the uniform and we will ensure that all parts of the uniform are available for purchase from the main supermarkets.”

Gedling Eye approached the school for a comment.

Headteacher Amanda Richards said: “We are currently in consultation with our parents regarding school uniform.

“Parents opinions are being sought over changing the colour or keeping the uniform the same.

“Our consultation period closes tomorrow.”

Arrests made after reported assault and car theft on Carlton Hill

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Arrests made after reported assault and car theft on Carlton Hill

Police have arrested two suspects following reports of a robbery on Carlton Hill in which a car was taken.

Officers were called at around 11.50pm on Friday (June 10), after a man reportedly had his car robbed.

It is alleged that the man had been assaulted by two people minutes earlier after pulling his car over in Francis Road, Carlton.

He is understood to have then fled the scene on foot.

The car was reportedly stolen during the incident but was later recovered by police.

Two men, aged 31 and 26, were arrested on suspicion of robbery and have since been released on conditional bail.

Detective Constable Hollie Fothergill, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Robbery is an extremely serious offence that can have a long-lasting impact on victims, often both from an emotional and physical standpoint.

“It is precisely for this reason why we have two specialist robbery teams made up of detectives covering Nottinghamshire who focus on bringing those responsible for offences of this nature to justice.

“We have currently arrested two people in connection with this incident but our enquiries are still ongoing, so we’d ask anyone who has any information to get in touch with the police immediately on 111, quoting incident 994 of 10 June 2022, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Fire crews attend blaze at derelict building on Carlton Hill

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Fire crews attend blaze at derelict building on Carlton Hill

Residents in Carlton Hill were last night being asked to keep doors and windows closed following a blaze.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service issued the warning last night (June 12) at 8:20 pm

notts-fire-engine

They said they were called to the incident at 7:10 pm following reports of smoke coming through the roof.

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue said:”We had three fire engines and an Aerial Ladder Platform at a fire in Carlton Hill. It is a derelict building.”

“The Incident was scaled back at 21:25 and all crews left the scene shortly after. Reinspections were carried out overnight.”

‘Prolific shoplifter’ from Carlton handed prison sentence after stealing more than £2,500 worth of goods

Gedling Eye Reporter
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‘Prolific shoplifter’ from Carlton handed prison sentence after stealing more than £2,500 worth of goods

A prolific shoplifter who stole thousands of pounds worth of items from a store in Carlton has been locked up.

Dean Earl carried out a string of thefts during a stealing spree that lasted several months.

The 40-year-old targeted the same Wilko store in Carlton Square, Carlton, on three separate occasions.

PICTURED: Dean Earl

In total, he walked out with more than £2,500 worth of items, following visits to the store on 16 January, 16 March and 22 May of this year.

Earl, of Conway Road, Carlton, also stole £200 worth of items and carried out an assault during a separate shop theft at B&M in Victoria Retail Park, Netherfield, on 17 April 2022.

Officers from the Gedling South neighbourhood policing team arrested Earl following his latest offence and he was charged with four counts of theft and common assault.

Having pleaded guilty to the charges, Earl appeared before Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 1 June 2022, where he was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Sergeant Rebecca O’Connor, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Earl is a prolific shoplifter who has consistently shown no regard for the law by repeatedly stealing.

“This was perfectly emphasised by the way he consistently targeted the same store on multiple occasions, with little or no thought for the consequences of his actions.

“Retail crime can often be seen as a victimless crime but this is certainly not the case and can have an impact on people’s livelihoods.

“Thanks to the tireless work of our officers, we were able to bring Earl before the courts and I’m pleased to see that he has been convicted and has now received a custodial sentence.

“It really should go without saying but there is absolutely no place for this type of behaviour in our society, so I hope that Earl uses his time in prison to reflect on the way he’s living his life.”

Residents want Gedling’s Levelling Up cash spent on park upgrades, road repairs and car park improvements

David Bratton
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Residents want Gedling’s Levelling Up cash spent on park upgrades, road repairs and car park improvements

A list of Gedling borough projects and schemes that should benefit from Levelling Up cash has been revealed.

The list was shared by Gedling MP Tom Randall and was made up of ideas suggested by residents following a recent social media appeal.

Tom Randall Brexit
APPEAL: Gedling MP Tom Randall asked residents for ideas on where to spend the Levelling Up cash
Front_Street_Arnold
IMPROVEMENT: It was suggested that Arnold’s Front Street could be pedestrianised

Gedling borough hasn’t yet benefitted the Government’s multi-billion pound Levelling Up fund – but Randall recently informed residents that more than £2m had been secured and would be handed over once Gedling Borough Council applied for the cash and detailed how it would be spent.

This prompted the MP to reach out for ideas from locals that he hoped would inspire the council when submitting details about the spend.

Gedling Borough Council applied for a share of the fund last year but an application for £20m from the £1.7 billion pot was rejected.

Local Members of Parliament Tom Randall and Mark Spencer were critical about quality of the application but council leaders hit back at the MPs for not properly supporting the bid.

Mr Randall recently announced that a figure of £2,866,555 has been ‘guaranteed for Gedling borough’ – but Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke was quick to remind residents that this money wasn’t certain.

“This money has not yet been given to the council and there is an added layer of bureaucracy,” he said.

“We need to provide an investment plan, which will take officer time and resource and doesn’t guarantee that we will get this much-needed money.”

Ideas submitted from residents…

  • Resurfacing of roads.
  • Improving council-owned property.
  • Bridlepath on Gedling Country Park.
  • More youth workers in the borough
  • Upgrading local parks.
  • More youth facilities for teenagers.
  • Investment in the cricket pavilion on King George Park.
  • Improvement of Valley Road playground.
  • Building a playground on Carlton Hill where the open space for the blind is and installing new benches, reducing the overgrown bushes and renovating the unused toilets into a coffee and snack bar.
  • Absorbing the money to compensate council tax.
  • Pedestrianising Front Street.
  • Solar panels for residents.
  • CCTV on King George Recreation Ground and the park on Standhill Road.
  • Zebra crossing on Breck Hill Road.
  • Calverton Road deer warning sign.
  • Employing extra dog fouling wardens.
  • Refurbish Wood Street toilets and install CCTV monitoring.
  • Lining the Borough’s high streets and residential areas with trees.
  • Speeding enforcement along Carlton Hill.
  • Opening more community hub for meals, youth clubs, rentable spaces for classes and voluntary service in Carlton.
  • Expand Mile End Road car park in Colwick and develop toilets. Change the car park surface. Better lighting near Vale Side Gardens Park in Colwick.
  • Remove graffiti from the ‘Welcome to Colwick’ stone.
  • Improve the public toilets on Arnot Hill Park; there is no hot water and extend opening hours.
  • More football facilities- Particularly around the Lambley Lane site.
  • Open a hockey field which can also be used for roller skating.
  • Developing the old Gedling Station into a community hub.
  • New shared community facility in Netherfield.
  • Turning the former colliery mineral line into a footpath or cycling route to link Gedling Country Park to Netherfield Town Centre.
  • Improving the environment- maintaining overgrown weeds and brambles, particularly around Howbeck Road.
  • Shed/storage area on Carlton Hill recreational ground for storage of community equipment with solar lighting and a grassed roof.
  • Rainwater collection system on the Carlton Hill Recreation ground for the watering of plants.
  • Entertainment facilities for teenagers, such a bowling centre and a laser quest.
  • Redesign Carlton Square car park – entrance lanes to Burton Road are not wide enough.
  • Where would you spend any Levelling Up cash received? Let us know in the comments below...

Netherfield man jailed after abusing young girl in Notts store

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Netherfield man jailed after abusing young girl in Notts store

A Netherfield man who was accused of sexually assaulting a young girl in a shop has been jailed.

Matthew Harrison, aged 32, targeted the child as she was shopping with her father at a store in Mansfield Road, Nottingham, at around 4pm on Sunday 16 January.

Nottingham_Crown_Court
PICTURED: Nottingham Crown Court
PICTURED: Matthew Harrison was jailed for three years

Harrison, who was working in the store at the time, lured the primary school aged child away from her father under the guise of helping her to find a favourite treat.

In the minutes that followed he twice place his hands on her before nonchalantly leading her back to her father.

Harrison, of Kenrick Street, was exposed when the child later told her parents about what had happened.

Harrison was arrested and an investigation was launched by Nottinghamshire Police.

A post-arrest search of his home revealed extensive evidence of his sexual interest in young children.

Harrison, whose offending was caught on CCTV, later admitted to two counts of sexual assault by touching.

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday he was jailed for three years and ordered to serve another five years on licence.

He was also made the subject of an extensive sexual harm prevention order which will tightly control his behaviour when he leaves prison.

Detective Constable Kirsty Ford of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was an appalling incident that cased considerable upset to the victim and her family. Harrison knew exactly what he was doing on that day and must now live with the consequences.

“As he starts a richly-deserved prison sentence I would like to pay tribute to the victim’s parents for the strength, determination and dignity they have shown through this incredibly upsetting process.

“I cannot stress enough just how seriously we treat these kinds of offences. When they are reported to us we will arrest suspects very quickly, we will investigate and we will do everything in our power to put them before the courts.”

First election for potential East Midlands Mayor pencilled in for May 2024

Andrew Topping (Local Democracy Reporter)
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First election for potential East Midlands Mayor pencilled in for May 2024

The first election to appoint a new mayor of the East Midlands could take place in May 2024.

This is provided all discussions and negotiations between leaders in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Derby, Derbyshire and the Government reach an agreement over a proposed devolution deal.

Council documents confirm the Government expects the first election to take place in slightly less than two years’ time, with the role to be the first of its kind in the region.

John Clarke Gedling
HOPEFUL: Cllr John Clarke, leader of Gedling Borough Council, thinks it would be easier to approach a Mayor for future council funding
Ben Bradley
AMBITIOUS: A Labour councillor recently said she believes Nottinghamshire County Council leader Ben Bradley will consider running for the role of Mayor

It follows ongoing talks about a potential mayoral combined authority covering the four areas, with plans coming as part of new ‘county deals’ for devolution.

Council leaders in the four areas have been in negotiations with ministers in recent months, focusing on six key areas for the potential deal.

These include education and skills, transport, infrastructure, strategic planning, health and the environment.

Leaders expect the negotiations with the Government to conclude by the autumn and a deal to be agreed later this year, in time for the potential mayoral election in 2024.

Documents state this date is the expected timeframe for residents to go to the polls, permitting the Government passes all relevant legislation in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.

If all negotiations and legislation go to plan, it could see billions of pounds pumped into the region and give local leaders more decision-making powers on major projects.

The mayoral post would control a new combined authority, which would include councillors from the county and city councils, with funding to be provided directly to the authority from Whitehall.

The combined authority would also govern about 2.2 million people, making it one of the largest in the country, while the mayor would hold similar responsibilities to Andy Burnham in Manchester.

Documents published by Nottinghamshire County Council state: “The Government’s aim is for a number of devolution deals to be agreed in principle by Autumn 2022.

“This is about peoples’ lives. It could be very good because, instead of bidding to the Government for funding, we will be bidding to the mayor’s office.

Cllr John Clarke, Leader of Gedling Borough Council

“Minister Neil O’Brien MP indicates that the first mayoral election would be likely to be held in May 2024.

“This is dependent on the legislative timescale for the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill which will enable a new type of combined authority. Our ambition is to secure the earliest possible deal.”

If the mayoral election is held in May 2024, it is likely to take place on the same day as the next General Election.

Councillor John Clarke (Lab), leader of Gedling Borough Council, has been involved in discussions alongside other council leaders in the region.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We need to make some serious decisions with this that put faith back into peoples’ minds about local and national government.

“This is about peoples’ lives. It could be very good because, instead of bidding to the Government for funding, we will be bidding to the mayor’s office.

“Hopefully that makes us a damn sight more successful than we have been with the Government in the past.

“I think this is probably one of the best ways we can do this.”

These are the latest police priorities for Gedling borough cops

Gedling Eye Reporter
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These are the latest police priorities for Gedling borough cops

Crackdowns on anti-social behaviour and speeding are amongst the policing priorities for this month across Gedling borough.

The local policing priorities are set every few months and the public can have their say on what they should be by completing a survey – which can be found here: https://www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/neighbourhoods/what-matters

The next set of priorities will be shared next month.

SPEEDING

Identified as a priority because:

Speeding has been identified as an issue in most areas, with local residents and elected members concerned about speeding issues and the dangers associated with speeding offences.

Here’s what Gedling Neighbourhood Policing Teams plan to do:

We are carrying out high-visibility speeding operations across the borough to both catch people speeding, but to also influence drivers and driving habits on our roads. This focus will be carried out by our Reacher and Neighbourhood Teams at highlighted locations across this period to additionally deter poor driving practices, with a number of actions to be considered when speeding and other driving related offences are discovered.

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

Identified as a priority because:

Anti-social behaviour has a real effect on victims and the community. Often people become repeat victims and require support from the police and partner agencies. We know that anti-social behaviour is a priority for the local community. Anti-social behaviour also leads to other offences such Criminal Damage, Assault and this can lead to lasting harm. Anti-social behaviour in the Gedling Borough is also linked to the use of controlled drugs particularly in open public spaces. Anti-social behaviour affects victim’s quality of life and without intervention of the police or partner agencies this often goes on for an extended period of time. Concerns around ASB are now increasing due to the easing of the COVID19 regulations which means that this will be a priority for the Gedling Borough throughout the next quarter.

Here’s what Gedling Neighbourhood Policing Teams plan to do:

We have identified key areas to target high visibility patrols. We are working together with the Gedling Neighbourhood Wardens to identify and deal with perpetrators. We are also supported by Special Constables who carry out additional patrols during the evenings and weekends when ASB is most prevalent. Schools officers are also providing educational inputs at local academies in order to reduce the likelihood of ASB. We are also working with partner agencies to support detached youth work in the Gedling Borough which will provide diversion opportunities for young people. We are also working together with private and social housing sectors to deal with those who cause nuisance through excessive noise or other behaviour that has a profound effect on victim’s lives. We risk assess repeat victims and ensure that appropriate support agencies are involved where required. We will also carry out patrols linked to drug use in ‘open spaces’ as this does contribute to reported anti-social behaviour in the Gedling Borough.

SHOP THEFT

Identified as a priority because:

There has been an identified increase in Shop Theft which results in financial loss which can have an impact on businesses. In some cases repeat offenders are abusive and threatening towards door staff and have used violence in order to steal. This leads to staff fearing for their personal safety. Shop Theft offenders often travel to the Gedling Borough to commit crime and are sometimes involved in other acquisitive crime. Gedling has several hotspot areas where offences have increased such as the Victoria Retail Park, Carlton Hill and Madford Retail Park.

Here’s what Gedling Neighbourhood Policing Teams plan to do:

We are carrying out patrols in hotspot locations. We are targeting known and prolific offenders by Neighbourhood Policing and Operation Reacher officers working together. We are reviewing reports of Shop Theft in order to identify patterns, trends and to secure any evidence such as CCTV footage. We are working together with the council to introduce a ‘Shop Watch’ scheme in hotspot areas which will see the increased sharing of information and intelligence between the police, partners and local businesses. We are working together with the retail crime lead to carry out early intervention work around known offenders. Gedling is also a pilot area for a collaborative project with the Co-op in order to reduce offences.

Specsavers in Arnold wants to highlight warning signs in your eyes that could indicate diabetes

Emily Sanchez
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Specsavers in Arnold wants to highlight warning signs in your eyes that could indicate diabetes

Specsavers in Arnold is highlighting the importance of regular eye tests as well as some of the warning signs we can look out for to help detect the condition.

It is estimated that 13.6 million people are in danger of developing type 2 diabetes and 850,000 are currently living with the condition but are yet to be diagnosed, However, if left untreated it can cause damage to the heart, feet, kidneys as well as our eyes, which in extreme cases can lead to vision loss.

To help prevent this from happening Specsavers is highlighting the importance of regular eye tests as well as some of the warning signs we can look out for to help detect the condition.

Vineet Nehra, optometrist director at Specsavers Arnold, says: ‘Diabetes can affect your eyes in many ways and, for some people, it can lead to diabetic retinopathy which, if not treated in time, can lead to sight loss.

‘In its early stages diabetic retinopathy usually doesn’t pose any noticeable symptoms, so an eye test can pick it up before you do. 

As diabetic retinopathy is a serious condition it is also important to monitor any changes in your vision and get them checked out by your optometrist. The warning signs include: 

PICTURED: Regular eye tests can help detect diabetes
eye-test
  • Persistent floaters – Vineet says: ‘Floaters are spots in your vision and usually look like black or grey specs or cobwebs that drift about when you move your eyes. Most people will experience floaters in their vision at some point in their life – particularly as we reach older age as the jelly-like substance in our eyes becomes more liquid.  

‘If you notice more eye floaters than usual, a sudden onset of new ones, flashes of light in the eye or darkness on any side of your vision, you must get it looked at immediately as in some cases it can be a symptom of diabetic retinopathy.’ 

  • Blurred vision – ‘Blurred vision can be caused by many things and it is vital you get it checked out,’ says Vineet. ‘Diabetes raises the risk of experiencing diabetic retinopathy where high blood sugar levels damage tiny blood vessels in the eye that sense light which can result in blurry vision. Blurry vision can also be a symptom of diabetes which can resolve when blood sugars start to reduce after diagnosis and starting treatment.’ 
  • Difficulty seeing in the dark – Vineet says: ‘As diabetic retinopathy can cause damage to the light sensors in the eye it can lead to dimmer vision, almost as if you’re wearing sunglasses. If you’re struggling to see when it’s dark, it’s an important sign not to ignore.’

Vineet adds: ‘You’re more at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy if you have had diabetes for a long time, have a persistently high blood sugar level, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, are pregnant or are of Asian or Afro-Caribbean background. By keeping your blood pressure, sugar levels and cholesterol levels down you can help reduce your risk and make sure you have regular eye tests too.

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