Blind boy uses his ears to 'see'

Lucas uses the same echolocation technique that bats and dolphins use

A seven-year-old blind boy has been taught to "see" using his ears.

Lucas Murray from Poole in Dorset has learned to use echoes to picture the world around him - similar to sonar techniques used by bats and dolphins.

He clicks his tongue on the roof of his mouth and from the sound that returns he tries to work out the distance, shape, density and position of objects.

The echolocation technique has helped Lucas, who was born blind, play basketball and rock climb.

He was taught the system by blind Californian Daniel Kish, 43, who founded the World Access for the Blind charity.

Lucas's parents Sarah and Iain saw Mr Kish on TV and asked him to visit.

Mr Kish said: "Lucas is one of the first in the UK to use this technique.

"He is able to click his tongue and determine where things are around him and what things are around him and he is able to travel comfortably without holding on to people.

"The click basically emanates a sound which bounces off the environment a bit like the flash of a camera."