'Guide joggers' have been changing the life of a blind man in Worcester one step at a time.

Dave Williams, 42, from Worcester, has Leber Congenital Amaurosis, an inherited disease which causes severe sight loss at birth, and has always been determined to find a sport suited for him.

One day, Dave was doing some online research and discovered an online database for guide-runners across the country.

“It said if you put your postcode in, we will find guide-runners in your area," he said. “I didn’t believe that claim, I thought that would probably work if you’re in London, not in Worcester.

“As a freelance IT training consultant, I thought 'when this fails, I can write to them and offer my services'.”

Having found a guide-runner in the area, they started training the following Monday and much to Dave’s surprise he found it harder than tthe andem biking he used to do.

Soon training alongside guide-runners, things began to change for Dave.

“I think as a blind person you have to explain yourself to others – people want to know about your blindness before they want to know your name," he said.

“What I’ve learnt is that it doesn’t matter if you’re not the best person at a sport, you’re just comparing against yourself. You start to feel better about yourself physically because before that your weight kept creeping up.

“I do very little physical exercise in my life and my health was inevitably going to deteriorate but now I can feel that changing. It's changed my life."

Guide-running is becoming an increasingly popular sport for blind people and the Black Pear Joggers have helped others in the city to become active and more independent.

A Black Pear Jogger, Tsu Law, is now training with Dave who holds onto her arm as she calls out directions for him to follow.

“I was approached by one of the committee members last year who said there was a guide-runners workshop and I was quite interested in doing guide-running," said Tsu. “I love helping blind-runners and for me it’s like giving back too. I love seeing people's progression and their journeys and to be a part of that is such a wonderful thing.”

The running club offers walk/jog or fast-past running groups.

To find out more, visit: www.bpj.org.uk