Visually impaired bowler says the sport saved him

A man who started playing bowls after losing his sight in his mid-40s says the sport has been "a complete lifesaver".

Ron Homer from Yeovil Visually Impaired Bowls Club began playing following a recommendation from his social worker after losing his sight, and consequently his job and driving licence.

After winning a gold medal in New Zealand in 2015 and travelling to places like South Africa and Australia, Homer has been selected to compete in the Commonwealth Games.

"I would encourage anybody with sight loss or any physical disability really, don't just sit at home watching the telly," he said. "Get out, meet people."

Ron Homer is one of about 38 players taking part in the Weston Lions' Visually Impaired Bowls Tournament in Weston-super-Mare between 7 and 10 May.

The tournament was set up by David Stott about 15 years ago, and players from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales soon began travelling to take part.

He said the tournament provided "great moral support" to players and showed bowls was "a wonderfully inclusive sport".

"We've got complete novices, people playing their first tournament ever, right up to internationals," Stott said.

Stott said the visually impaired game was played with a string down the centre of the rink, which those who were partially sighted could judge their angle from.

"For the totally blind, they can feel for the string to judge the distance off," Stott said.

"The markers, rather than remaining silent as they usually do in the sighted game, call the position of each bowl as it comes to rest using the clock system."

Homer said he knew nothing about bowls before taking up the sport.

"I plucked up the courage eventually, went up, had a few goes, and basically got the bug," Homer said.

Homer said getting to the Commonwealth Games would be his top bowls achievement, but added it would "be a one-off thing" as he was "not getting any younger".

"When I lost my sight, you lose your job, you can't drive, you're in a black hole, and then this came along and I haven't looked back," he said.

"I have no idea what I would have done otherwise... you only get one chance at life, so you've got to enjoy it."

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.