BLINDFOLDED visitors tried to perform a variety of everyday tasks at a Try It Blind event.

The Dorset Blind Association event gave visitors a chance to try getting dressed, identifying food and drink and other activities the fully-sighted often take for granted while deprived of their vision.

Running as part of the charity's online #tryitblind campaign, the goal is to raise £15,000 towards a scheme to help blind and partially-sighted people into work.

Blind actor Sam Frears, who gave a talk at the event at the Elstead Hotel in East Cliff, Bournemouth, said: "I think this is a totally amazing campaign to help blind and partially-sighted people get into work.

"People like us can work as well as able-bodied people, and I have been telling people about my experiences."

Mr Frears, whose father Stephen - the BAFTA-winning director of The Queen and High Fidelity - is patron of the charity, is himself currently working on a film project with Nick Hornby and Helena Bonham Carter.

Jaya Da Costa, the charity's fundraising and marketing manager, said: "The campaign has been going well online, we have had a blindfolded woman trying to put a harness on her dog as blind people have to do every day - she thought that would be easy.

"We have had a person mowing the lawn.

"Today people are trying different things out, counting money, working out what objects are, putting on a shirt and tie, that sort of thing."

Thus far £4,150 has been raised for the campaign, which is supported by Bournemouth council, Bournemouth University, Barclays, JP Morgan and other organisations.

When funding is in place the charity will be able to help groups of blind and partially-sighted people with training in key skills, work placements and confidence-building activities, as well as raising awareness among employers.

"We are getting more and more requests on our services to help people find employment," added Ms Da Costa.

"Since the government has reduced benefits more people are seeking work, but the Access to Work scheme has been cut as well and some people don't have the skills and confidence they need.

"If we can't raise the funds we can't run the scheme."

Visit www.dorsetblind.org.uk/tryitblind for more information on the campaign