BLACKBURN Mayor Coun John Williams may have thought he knew the town centre like the back of his hand, but a short trip complete with a blindfold changed that forever.

Coun Williams, along with guide, Blackburn Lions Club president Harry Pennington, apprehensively agreed to spend an afternoon blindfolded to learn just what life is like for the visually impaired.

Although only a chair tripped him up during the stunt, organisers had planned a trip full of what most of us take for granted, but which are full of hazards for someone without sight - from drinking a hot cup of tea to going down an escalator and addressing a letter.

The Lions were publicising their part in 2020 Vision, which aims to eradicate unnecessary blindness worldwide by 2020, SightFirst, a Lions project which aims to combat blindness, and World Sight Day. A shocking 80 per cent of blindness is preventable and curable.

Afterwards, despite finding the experience difficult, Coun Williams declared all children should have a go, to improve their understanding.

Drawing puzzled glances from shoppers, Coun Williams and Harry started their walk at the town hall, before negotiating their way through crowds at the shopping centre.

Buying a card for his daughter's 30th birthday presented Coun Williams with his first hurdle - finding the right cards, reading the messages and manoeuvring in the shop.

His lack of independence surprised him. "The feeling of helplessness was the main thing for me. Even paying was difficult. I didn't know which note was which and I thought I'd given a fiver but it was a tenner. Bull in a China shop would be an apt description for me.

"But I think it is a wonderful experience that perhaps schools should consider doing. In fact, it is something everybody should have a go at."

Within minutes he was relying on other senses although his touch let him down - a £2 coin felt like a "ten bob piece", and he was not brave enough to attempt the escalator.

"I have only done this in a normal situation," he said. "The idea of being in traffic or something doesn't bear contemplation. It makes you realise how valuable guide dogs are. It doesn't matter how independent you think you are, there are some situations when anyone would need help. You feel constricted in every way."

To prepare for the day Harry had also tried the blindfold with a council rehabilitation officer.

"I didn't have a clue where I was going. You become aware of different things that you wouldn't normally think about. I'm told one of the things blind people find most worrying is dog fouling, as they have no warning of it," he said.

But those living with the condition were on hand to give pointers. Partially sighted Lions member Ken Maidens said starting the day knowing what coins and notes were in his wallet helped.

At the Royal National Institute for the Blind in the Boulevard, chief executive Mike Mulcahy let Coun Williams try a scanner, paid for by the Lions, which reads letters aloud. It read a statement from the Lions thanking Coun Williams for his efforts.

And he also showed him a tip to address an envelope, using a special card which leaves imprints of lines for a blind person to follow.

Coun Williams said: "The kind of situation you would never think of, like addressing an envelope, becomes impossible. Things which one would take for granted need to be overcome. It is surprising."

Earlier in the day members had also blindfolded the Gladstone statue in Northgate with the help of Blackburn fire brigade and the mother and child statue in the Boulevard as part of their publicity.