A BLIND scrambled egg cook off helped to promote awareness of sight issues to encourage people to get their eyes tested regularly.

Scott Hemsley of Sight Advice South Lakes took on the Mayor of Kendal, Cllr Andy Blackman, in a bid to make the perfect scrambled eggs while wearing glasses to simulate sight difficulties in the kitchens at Kendal College.

Cllr Blackman wore glasses that simulated the effects of macular degeneration, a condition that causes blurred vision, making reading difficult, affecting colours and making faces hard to recognise.

The NHS reports that age related macular degeneration affects more than 600,000 people in the UK and is the leading cause of vision loss in the country.

Cllr Blackman found the hardest part of the task to be opening a new container of pepper and having to guess the right amount of seasoning in the egg.

Mr Hemsley, who wore glasses that simulated retinal pigmentosa, a condition that can cause severe vision impairment, had the same difficulties.

Paul Waring, a catering tutor from Kendal College, praised both contestants for adding the right amount of seasoning despite finding that part of the task so difficult.

Kendal & District Lions hosted the event as part of the ‘sharing the vision’ campaign of Lions International’s Centennial Challenge, celebrating 100 years of the organisation.