A REGISTERED blind woman has revealed the criticism she has faced for having a guide dog.

Sara Irvine, was registered blind after operations to repair a brain tumour made her already diminished eyesight worse and she now cannot see out of one eye.

Ms Irvine, of Pershore was given two-year-old guide dog Rosie last year, but admits she receives comments almost daily from people who can't understand why she has been given one.

She said: "A lot of people ask me if I am training a guide dog and when I say it is mine they say I do not look blind and it does not look like I need one. I get this almost every day.

"Other people say that if I pick up dog mess than I can't be blind.

"I have had problems with my sight since I was young, and a number of operations to repair a brain tumour has made it worse.

"I have never had peripheral vision in my right eye or forward vision in my left eye, but I have now lost peripheral vision in my left eye which means I cannot see out of it at all. I now have just vertical 'letterbox' vision in my right eye.

"People need to open their eyes to sight loss and I really want to raise awareness of it.

"I do try and laugh when I hear it, but it is frustrating and I do get upset sometimes when I get home."

Talking about how Rosie helps her, she added: "Rosie is my best friend, she is not just my eyes but she gives me independence and security.

"She stops me falling over and passing out, I was told that if I do that again I could lose my sight permanently.

"She gives me confidence to leave the house and to do my shopping without causing problems for anybody else."