The Beacon Centre for the Blind in Wolverhampton has installed a range of interactive fitness equipment as part if efforts to break down barriers to exercise for people with sight loss.

The centre, which has tasked with helping people with sight loss live fuller and more independent lives, has installed a two panel Sportwall and an eight dance mat system supplied by ZigZag.

Beacon's fundraising and marketing manager, Clare Thomas said: "Part of our job is to keep people fit and healthy and to make it fun, but some able bodied people find it hard to go to the gym, so you can imagine how terrifying it can be for people with sight loss.

"Interactive fitness equipment is perfect for our members - most people with a visual impairment have some sight and the bright lights make it ideal. The noises also help a great deal.

"The Sportwall and dance mats are also suitable for all fitness levels and ages so it makes mixed age exercise at the centre both possible and fun. In fact when we were testing it we couldn't get one older lady off the Sportwall!."

The Beacon Centre is a registered charity and began life in 1875 as the Wolverhampton Society for the Blind.