A TORY parliamentary candidate was given a real-life experience of how vital guide dogs are in supporting blind and visually impaired people.

Chris Green, who will challenge Labour MP Julie Hilling for her Bolton West seat in May’s General Election, paid a visit to the Guide Dogs Training Centre in Gibfield Park Avenue in Atherton for a tour and demonstration.

As well as admiring the facilities on offer at the £6.5 million centre — Mr Green was given an insight into how someone living with visual impairment requires a guide dog to get around.

He was blindfolded and challenged to move around the centre with only a guide dog to assist.

Speaking about his experiences, Mr Green said: “It is really disconcerting to be blindfolded and led by a guide dog and I was doing this in a really safe environment inside the centre — I can only imagine what it must be like out on the streets where there are so many hazards.”

Mr Green is backing a campaign organised by the Guide Dogs charity which is calling for announcements to be made on buses to let blind and visually impaired people know when there stop is coming up, rather than relying on bus drivers to shout out.

He said: “It is a great initiative because often if a driver has had a busy day they may not remember to shout out the name of the stop — so bringing in these announcements is really important.”

Mr Green said the Atherton facility also highlighted the generosity of people who have given funds to keep it going.

He said: “It is a tremendous place and it is run entirely on private donations, I think that just shows how generous people are.”

The training centre was officially opened in 2010 by HRH Princess Alexandra.