A DEVOTED Liverpool fan who is registered blind was able to watch his side's dramatic Champions League victory against Barcelona - thanks to a new visual headset.

Ian Wood, 41, from Acomb, York, has had a season ticket at Liverpool for 20 years but has never been able to watch his beloved side until now.

Since he was five he has been registered blind, with only five per cent vision, and so for years he could only listen to the atmosphere - and the radio - when visiting Anfield on match days.

But now, thanks to a new headset invented by the charity Remap, Ian can watch the game clearly and celebrated when he saw Divock Origi score the winning goal that sent Liverpool to the Champions League final on Tuesday night.

Ian, who was also diagnosed with mitochondrial disease - a genetic condition which causes progressive disability- when he was 24-years-old, said that Rupert Powell, an electrical engineer for Remap, helped design the headset.

It includes a virtual reality screen that is attached to a ski helmet. On top of the helmet is a camera that connects to a small computer, which enhances the images and plays them on a screen held over Ian’s eyes.

Ian said that the camera works for three hours - enough time for him to watch the full 90 minutes at Anfield on Tuesday, as he saw his beloved team come back from three goals down against Barcelona.

He said: “It was incredible. The best game I have ever witnessed at Anfield.

“The crowd is our 12th man and to see the goals fly in was an unbelievable sight.

“I didn’t manage to get a ticket for the final last year but hopefully I can get one for Madrid next month.

“Before I had the headset, I could decipher what was going on in the game through the atmosphere from crowd but I did always feel like I missed out.

“I went with my friends but afterwards they would all talk about the goals and it would be difficult to join in.

“But now, thanks to Remap, I can see the game very well and it is such an amazing experience.

“I am so thankful to the charity for all the help they have given me. It has really helped me.”

Rupert, from York, said the headset took a year to design.

He said: “I visited Ian at his home and witnessed how he had to watch football up close on the 42in television, with his nose pressed against the screen.

“I decided to work on a prototype of the headset and a year later, I managed to make the RooVision headset for him."

He added that the headset can also be used by Ian at the pub, at concerts or when he goes to the supermarket.

The cost of the headset is about £600, however Remap offer to build them for free to people in need.

Last year, Ian raised £2,000 for Remap by tackling a Super Hero Triathlon. This August he will compete in a 400m swim, 10km bike ride and 2.5km wheelchair-push.