A visually-impaired student has overcome his sight problems to pass an art and design course with flying colours.

Despite being blind in his left eye and having limited vision in his right eye Zac Carr, 17, from Waterfoot, excelled at his level one art and design course at Blackburn College.

Although sceptical at first, both Blackburn College and Zac adapted to ensure the level one course could be completed.

And Zac is now moving onto level two next year.

Magnifying glasses, creating contrasting colours on images, masking tape and hands on sculpture work have enabled him to complete the course.

Zac has a detached retina which has left him blind in one eye since he was eight.

But can distinguish outlines and contrasts in his right eye.

He said he had had more then 20 operations on his right eye but will eventually go blind.

Zac said: “Art inspires me. It is something fun that I like to do.

“I like the 3D stuff lots, because it’s easier. I can feel what I’m making.

“When I signed up to the course I did think ‘how are we going to do this?’ but we have managed.

“We’ve just adapted.

“I use masking tapes so I don’t go over the lines, magnifiers and markers for example.”

Zac said his work ‘was all right for someone who can’t see properly, adding: “I remember what things look like but when they don’t turn out how I remember them it is irritating.

“I just forget about my eye condition and don’t let it get me down. Everyone has a tough time in different ways.”

Zac said he didn’t have any future career plans as he ‘thinks of the present not the future’.

Course leader Anna Ashworth said everyone at the college was proud of Zac.

She said: “Art is something he has loved from being quite young.

“Some people are surprised at what he is capable of. His confidence has just grown all the way through the year..”