A GUIDE Dogs supporter from Otley is preparing to carry out a ten mile walk - while wearing a blindfold.

Volunteer fundraiser Phil Taylor is undertaking the challenge on Saturday, April 1 to raise awareness of the difficulties and obstacles people with sight loss face every day.

Mr Taylor will start the walk from the Market Square in Otley at 10am and hopes to reach the Black Prince statue, in Leeds City Square, by 2pm.

He will be accompanied by Charlotte Walton from Guide Dogs, acting as a guide*, and some friends for part of the route but is hoping to welcome others too.

He said: "Although I have no family members with sight loss or who have benefitted from a guide dog I know how life-changing they can be to someone who is visually impaired, and that is why I decided to fundraise for Guide Dogs.

"I would love to have some company on the walk.

"You needn’t be blindfolded and you don’t have to walk the whole ten miles - just walk along with me, chat to keep my spirits up or maybe carry a collecting bucket."

Mr Taylor is hoping to raise £1,000 for the charity, which help fund its guide dog partnerships, from the walk.

He can be sponsored at justgiving.com/guidedogfundraisers .

*The charity's My Guide service pairs visually impaired people who don't have a guide dog with a trained and vetted volunteer partner, to help them get out and about.