A blind artist has achieved a groundbreaking feat by finishing a marathon while sporting spectacles equipped with artificial intelligence, with remote assistance coming from volunteers scattered across the globe.

Forty-five-year-old Clarke Reynolds from Portsmouth reached the finish line at the Brighton Marathon last Sunday, wearing Meta artificial intelligence glasses linked to the Be My Eyes platform, which links people with visual impairments to helpers worldwide for routine tasks.

Mr Reynolds, whose sight is restricted to just five percent because of retinitis pigmentosa, said he hoped to boost awareness and prompt discussions that might lead people to challenge beliefs about what blind individuals can achieve.

The Be My Eyes application was originally designed to help users with activities like picking out clothes or locating items inside refrigerators, though Mr Reynolds seems to be the first person to use it for tackling the 26.2-mile course while collecting money for Fight for Sight, the organisation he represents as an ambassador.

In his role as ambassador for the national charity, he completed the event within six hours and twenty minutes and has so far gathered £2,700 in contributions to fund research into eye conditions and related support programmes.

During his training, he recounted how helpers often responded with surprise to his requests.

He said he had merely ten seconds to identify himself and mention he was getting ready to run a marathon.

They could see him. They expected him to ask about locating a particular food item or seeking help getting to a store.

As a result, they reacted with considerable astonishment when he told them he was training for the Brighton Marathon.

Several subsequently pledged financial support.

Pre-arranged volunteers could see exactly what lay ahead for Mr Reynolds and offered encouragement throughout his run.

TV personality Victoria Coren Mitchell was among those making donations to support his efforts.

He had previously completed the London Marathon with a guide runner, while in Brighton he was accompanied by qualified guide Alastair Ratcliffe as a safety measure.

Eleanor Southwood, who holds the position of director of impact and external affairs at Fight for Sight, said the charity took tremendous pride in Clarke.

What he achieved was remarkable.

They sincerely appreciated his commitment alongside the generosity of all who had contributed to his fundraising.