Children meet blind motorcyclist

Billy Baxter has also worked as a stuntman

A group of Black Country schoolchildren have been meeting a blind man who races motorcycles.

Billy Baxter, who has driven a motorbike at more than 160 mph, was introduced to pupils at Castlecroft Primary School in Wolverhampton on Tuesday.

His visit was intended to show them what blind and partially-sighted people can achieve.

The former soldier, who reached an average speed of nearly 165 mph in August with the help of directions via a radio link, has also worked as a stuntman and run marathons.

Mr Baxter, who is also known as Billy Whizz, told BBC Midlands Today it is important children learn how little there is that blind people cannot do.

Rare disease

"Shortly after the introductions, what I do I is show them is that I am a normal person and do everything.

"I fold my stick away and I remove my glasses and they can see that I am not disfigured in any way and it puts them at ease.

"They are knocked for six when we explain to them how blind people get round daily problems and what they do."

Mr Baxter was a Staff Sergeant in the Royal Horse Artillery for 20 years.

Shortly after he returned home from Bosnia in 1997, he was diagnosed with a rare eye disease and is now totally blind.

Mr Baxter hopes to smash his speed record next year by reaching 200 mph.