CHILDREN ate their lunch blindfolded to learn about the challenges faced by visually-impaired people.

Hundreds of pupils at Windmill Primary School in Headington took on the task as part of a day of activities with Oxfordshire Association for the Blind.

Youngsters made and decorated blindfolds before using them to mask their eyes at lunchtime, navigating their lunchboxes without the use of sight.

Laura Howdill, fundraising and communications manager at the association, said: "By giving the children an immersive, hands-on experience, we hope that they can appreciate some of the challenges that sight impaired people might face daily.

"We had been thinking about this project for a while and are so delighted that Windmill pupils stepped up to and embraced the challenge.

"It is vital that young people have a good understanding of eye health and of visual impairment, and we are absolutely thrilled to be working closely with the school."

The activity day last month was part of a wider partnership, after the school named the association its charity of the year.

One Year 2 pupil said: "I really liked the assembly and the blindfolded lunch was fun. It was hard wearing the blindfold - I couldn’t find where my fish was."

Nathan Tree, a visually-impaired ice hockey player who has used the association's services, was star guest at the assembly along with his guide dog Maisie.

Mr Tree presented prizes to winners of an eye health poster competition, which had been organised by the Oxfordshire Vision Strategy Group.

Winning pupils received book tokens donated by Abingdon Lions Club.

Pupils in Years 1, 3 and 6 then got the chance to learn more about visual impairment and try out a range of equipment – including simulation spectacles, white canes and specialist sporting equipment.

Karren Visser, a visually impaired photographer, visited the school to take photos on the day.

The event raised £355 and Windmill also named Mr Tree as one of the school's inspirational sports personalities for the year.

The 29-year-old, from Wheatley, has completed several sporting challenges for Oxfordshire Association for the Blind.

The charity provides support to anyone in Oxfordshire affected by visual impairment, offering services free of charge.

It is rolling out its schools programme in primary schools across the county, and is keen to speak to any schools that might be interested in participating.

Windmill's headteacher Lynn Knapp said: "We hope this has raised awareness of what it is like to be visually impaired in a fun and practical way."

The association relies on fundraising and donations to keep supporting its service users, which number more than 2,800 people each year.