THE Mayor of Dudley became the man behind a mask to learn about living with sight loss during a charity visit.

Councillor Melvyn Mottram donned a blindfold during a visit to a Stourbridge charity's World Sight Day event to highlight visual impairment and work to support people with sight loss.

During his visit to the Thomas Pocklington Trust at the Mary Stevens Centre, Hagley Road, Cllr Mottram took part in a special experiment where he was blindfolded and put through a series of tests, to experience the challenges of people with sight loss.

He said: “The work of the Thomas Pocklington Trust and their volunteers is hugely important not only in raising awareness of the challenges many people face, but also in the support they offer them in leading independent lives.”

The trust also joined Dudley Council’s vision support team to share information with Kingswinford and Stourbridge Lions and demonstrated guiding techniques, living aids and the effects of different eye conditions on people’s everyday lives.

The Thomas Pocklington Trust runs a research and development programme which identifies, promotes and implements practical ways to improve quality of life, social inclusion and independence for people with sight loss.

The trust provides independent and supported housing, care services, communal activities and home support services based on people’s needs.

Ann Evett, development manager at the Thomas Pocklington Trust, said: “I’m delighted that the centre is working in partnership with our local community in such a positive manner to raise awareness of the avoidable effects that sight loss has on so many people worldwide.”