An identical pair of twins, including University of Bristol student Dan Smith, hit the headlines nationally after sharing the experience of losing their sight and plans for a 570km charity cycle ride from London to Amsterdam.

Dan and his brother Michael, both 20, were enjoying university life when their vision began to deteriorate. Within weeks their sight was reduced to just seven per cent due to Leber's Optic Neuropathy which is a very rare genetic condition that leads to the death of cells in the optic nerve, causing it to stop relaying vital information from the eyes to the brain.

Their plight caught the attention of the national press and was featured in The Telegraph, The Express, the i newspaper, the Daily Mail, The Metro, the Press Association and Yahoo News.

They were also interviewed live on BBC Points West, BBC Radio Bristol, BBC World Service and Radio 5 Live. Local newspaper coverage included the Evening Post, London 24, Barnet and Whetstone Press and the Barnet and Potters Bar Times.

• Dan and Michael will also be on BBC Breakfast and Channel 5 News next Monday morning, 20 February.

Full press release: Twins who were left blind by rare condition plan 570km cycle challenge

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