THE Mayor of Bolton stepped out on an unusual walk through the town on Thursday.

Cllr Lynda Byrne donned a blindfold to gain an insight into the difficulties facing people with restricted sight.

The challenge was led by members of Bolton Lions Club who were in the town centre for the awareness raising event as part of World Sight Day.

After stepping out on to the flagstones of Deansgate with just a white cane and to friendly Lions to guide her, Cllr Byrne said: “I found it very disorienting! When you suddenly can’t see you feel very dizzy.

“I could barely walk with the cane, I had to have two people guide me! I don’t know how people manage.”

A blind Englishman named James Biggs is claimed to have created the famous white cane in 1921 when he painted his walking stick white.

Lions Club President George A. Bonham went on to introduce the cane to North America and in 1926 deaf-blind activist Helen Keller challenged the Lions to become the ‘Knights of the Blind’.

Since then clubs, including Bolton have fundraised towards medical research, blindness awareness programs and other programmes.

Bolton Lions President David Seager said: “We take this day as an opportunity to promote our work and the good causes supporting those with sight difficulties.

“Over the year we collect old glasses which we recycle and help raise money.

“We are just one of many clubs around the world taking part in events today and we are hoping to get the citizens of Bolton walking up and down with the cane and blindfold to give people an understanding of what it is like to be blind.”