Meet the UK's first blind darts team - The Optimists

The UK's first blind darts team are preparing for their debut today in a charity tournament.

The quartet, known as The Optimists, practise by using a piece of string to help guide their darts to the board.

Team member Richard Pryor, 69, said the idea came from Joe Fryer, the landlord of the Dolphin Inn in the Cornish town of Grampound.

Richard runs a support group for the blind and visually impaired and got a strong response when he advertised for players.

Teammate Rachael Beresford, 39, used to play darts before losing her sight due to glaucoma and diabetes.

"I didn't think I would be able to do it but so far I'm getting most of them on the board," she said.

Fellow darter, 53-year-old Carol Pirret said she was "very excited" about the competition.

The fourth Optimist, Sharon Waters, 46, was not quite as optimistic as the team's name would suggest.

"Seeing as it's for charity I thought 'oh why not?' It's going to be fun, I think, but I don't fancy our chances," she said.