A POOL championship for a charity helping people with a condition that can cause permanent sight loss takes place at a Widnes pub next month.

A total of 32 people – expert and novice – will battle it out at the Kingsway Hotel on Friday, November 1.

The winner will be crowned Pool King or Queen of the Kingsway.

The tournament is being held to raise money for the charity NMO Spectrum-UK.

NMO – Neuromyelitis Optica, also sometimes called Devic's Disease, affects the spinal cord and the nerves of the eyes (the optic nerves).

It can lead to temporary or permanent loss of sight or paralysis.

Alison Hill, licensee of the Kingsway Hotel said: "This is the first of a number of fund-raising events we plan to run for NMO Spectrum-UK.

"I am very pleased with the support that our customers are giving.

"Some of them are novice players but want to do their bit to help the charity."

The NHS has two specialist centres for the treatment of NMO – at the Walton Centre, Liverpool and at Oxford.

Tony Hughes-McCann, chief executive of the NMO Spectrum-UK charity said: "I am very pleased that the whole family - Alison, husband Tony and sons Steven and Chris have really got behind us and made us their charity partner.

"I am also grateful to all of the people who have entered the competition just to support the work we do."