Former EastEnders actor Shaun Williamson has become patron of a charity based in his home town of Maidstone.

Shaun, best known for his portrayal of Barry Evans in the BBC1 soap between 1994 and 2004, has taken on the role with the British Wireless for the Blind Fund.

The actor, who has appeared in BBC2's comedy Extras and won ITV's Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes for his performance as Meatloaf, still lives in Maidstone.

The charity he is heading up, which is based in Albion Place, was founded by war hero Captain Sir Beachcroft Towse, VC, KCVO, CBE, who lost his sight in the Boer War in South Africa in 1900.

Today it provides high quality, easy to use audio equipment, specially designed and adapted for listeners living with sight loss.

Shaun said: "It is a great honour to be a new patron for the BWBF, who have been providing specially designed audio equipment to listeners suffering with sight loss since 1928 and I look forward to raising money and awareness for their cause in the future.

"When I was at drama school (back in the middle ages!!) we took part in an exercise where we went out in pairs and took it in turns to try and negotiate the streets of London blindfolded. Even for that brief time and knowing that it was only temporary, it was a terrifying experience. Try it, you’ll see what I mean.

"The least we can do is try and provide audible pleasures to the people who have been denied the use of optical ones."