A Sevenoaks woman went blind for a day as part of a project run by a sight charity.

Sylvia Jones-David spent the day wearing a pair of contact lenses that impaired her vision for a project with Sightsavers.

The 71-year-old wanted to highlight the plight of people living with cataracts in developing countries - where 18 million people are currently affected.

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Mrs Jones-David, who works as a psychotherapist councillor and hypnotist, was given the special lenses which simulated what her sight would be like with advanced cataracts.

Sightsavers has launched a video documenting her experience.

Commenting on her day wearing the lenses Mrs Jones-David, who lives with her husband in Silks Mill Close, said: “Experiencing blindness was frightening. All I could see were shadows. I lost my balance and wasn’t able to do the gardening I love.

"Even walking to the bottom of the garden was scary – like walking through thick snow. If this blindness was permanent, I think I would become very introverted.

"I would struggle to do my job as a councillor because so much of what I do is based on reading body language. I enjoy sewing, but there’s no way I could thread a needle.”

A spokesman for the Sightsavers said the video launched at the same time as a recent poll which found 79 per cent of people in South East of England value their sight as priceless, or said they would give everything to get it back if they went blind.

Mrs Jones-David said: "I have eight grandchildren and the thought of not being able to see their expressions – when they are happy or sad, is appalling. And I still do so much for my family, such as cooking them dinner, but I wouldn’t trust myself to cook with the oven.

“If I were blind I would sell my house - I would sell anything – to get my sight back again, because it is so restrictive. I couldn’t believe it when I was told an operation costs Sightsavers just £30. If only more people knew that help was available.”

All donations made by the UK public in support of Sightsavers’ work to prevent avoidable blindness in developing countries will be matched pound for pound by the UK government until Tuesday, December 15.

For more information click here.