LEARNING to cope with the loss of your sight is a difficult and scary experience for anyone - let alone a boy aged 10.

Just as the world is becoming an exciting place to be, you're thrown into darkness.

But one inspirational Worcester schoolboy has failed to let his blindness deter him from his passion - reading and writing - and he has now published his first collection of poems.

Liam Midwood, now aged 13, is a pupil at New College Worcester, and he began writing poetry about two years ago.

He said: "I first started writing after I read some of Gervaise Phinn's poetry. I liked the way he managed to be able to create fantastic stories and work them into a poem. I thought if I can do that it would be great."

Liam began writing, inspired by his own experiences of being blind.

"I was partially-sighted from birth," he said, "but when I was 10, within a week my sight just completely went.

"The hospital didn't know why it had happened and I still don't know why I went blind.

"It was really hard at first and it took a long time to get used to it. You have to learn to do everything all over again."

With help from his family and charities Liam, whose home is in Bradford,Yorkshire, began to adapt to his new world.

He said: "Everything was very difficult to start with. The hardest thing was moving around and I'm a lot slower now than I used to be, but it doesn't hinder me too much. I can still do all of the things I love to do, such as sports and reading."

Liam, a keen Bradford City football fan, started at New College Worcester a little over a year ago and he has thrived at the school.

"I love it here," he said. "I have made lots of friends and I get to do all of the things I like. I go back to Bradford to see my mum and dad about every three or four weeks."

Liam describes his book - My Life in Rhymes.Touched by Blindness - as autobiographical. It charts his feelings and the practicalities of coming to terms with being blind.

The poems are truly inspirational and moving.

He said: "I wanted to do something that no one else had done. It is like a diary where I can write how I'm feeling and the things that have happened to me. I found writing very difficult at school but when I discovered poetry it was a great way to express myself.

"Life is very different now than it was two years ago and you can see that through my poems as they change through the book.

"It took me about a year or so to write all the poems and then it took quite a long time to get them published. I wanted it to be available in large print, Braille and audio CD and I am so proud that I have achieved that."

Liam, who learned to read Braille within about 12 months, said he hoped people whether blind, partially-sighted or those with perfect vision, would enjoy his writing and is already working on his second collection.

He said: "There are about 60 poems in this book. They all reflect certain stages of my life and I hope people enjoy reading them."

The book is split into six sections covering blindness and people who help, school, family and friends, sport, having fun and food and drink.

Liam recently met popular children's author Jacqueline Wilson at a charity event. She said: "Liam's poems are heartfelt and sincere. He's a sensitive boy who loves words.

"His poems make you smile, make you think, make you sad. He is blind but he makes his readers see."

Liam said: "It was really great to meet Jacqueline Wilson. My aim is to become a popular author. My favourite authors are Anthony Horowitz and Gervaise Phinn."

My Life in Rhymes. Touched by Blindness by Liam Midwood is available in all formats direct from New College Worcester, from the online bookstore Amazon, or through the National Blind Children's Society. It costs £4.99.

A LIFE IN POETRY

This poem, taken from Liam's autobiographical book of poems is called How I See.

I listen to clocks ticking, I smell biscuits baking, I taste cherries sweetness and I feel what I am making.

I listen to cars on the road, I sniff flowers scent, I taste strawberries sharpness and I feel the shape of a tent.

I hear all sounds, loud and soft, I smell all smells, weak and strong, I taste all tastes, sweet and sour and feel where I have gone wrong.

If I could not hear and if I could not smell, if I could not taste, if I could not feel as well.

I would not know, what most things are, because I cannot see them, whether they are near or far.