PEOPLE in Kidderminster are being urged to help train the next generation of guide dogs by becoming puppy walkers.

Guide Dogs - the organisation managing training of the canine companions - currently has no puppy walker couples in the town.

Ideally, Guide Dogs would like puppies to go into a household at between six and seven weeks old but the shortage of walkers means they sometimes do not get placed until they are between nine and 10 weeks old.

Karen Ramos, Guide Dogs' volunteer recruitment co-ordinator, said: "We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to become puppy walkers to help prepare our pups for the life-transforming work ahead of them as guide dogs for visually-impaired people."

Guide dog pups spend most of their first year with their walkers who teach them basic obedience and house training and familiarise them with home and town environments.

Puppy walkers need to make a full-time commitment and volunteers need to have access to cars, be at home for most of the day and able to take the puppy into varied environments.

Guide Dogs supplies basic equipment and pays all veterinary and feeding expenses. More information is available from Karen Ramos on 01926 337244.