Guide Dogs for the Blind are coming to The Ashley Centre in Epsom next month to raise awareness and funds for the charity.

The Ashley Centre is hosting the charity on Saturday, February 16 for training demonstrations with a real guide dog and a range of other activities.

An eight month old puppy called Ashley sponsored by the shopping centre will be popping in for a visit, and there will be a stall with tombolas, games and charity trade items for sale.

Guide Dogs for the Blind, which funds research and campaigns for the partially sighted, will also hold demonstrations at 10.30am, 12.30pm, and 2.30 to show how guide dogs are trained.

There will also be a ‘blindfold walk’ escorted by Fiona, a specialist trainer with the charity, for shoppers to experience what it is like when someone loses their sight.

Every hour someone in the UK goes blind. When someone young or old loses their sight, Guide Dogs for the Blind make sure they don’t lose their freedom as well.