RESIDENTS in Malton are being challenged to experience life with only a guide dog to lead their way.

The Ryedale branch of the Guide Dogs charity is hosting a 'blindfold walk' at 10.30am in Wheelgate on Thursday, with mayor Joan Lawrence and other councillors among those invited.

Organised to promote National Guide Dog Week, the event will see volunteers led along the busy pavement by Pip under the watchful eye of handler Helen Plunkett.

"Our guests will wear black specs or blindfolds and will be given a real life experience of what it is like to walk with a guide dog," said Ryedale branch member Greg Christie.

"That way people can find out how it feels to be totally reliant on an animal.

"We'll be holding a street collection too, but this is mainly about raising awareness."

Greg, who lives in Ryedale Close, Norton, relies on his dog Captain as he has limited vision after suffering from a rare eye infection.

He said: "Through this event, we want to let people who are important and make decisions know about the different problems people with guide dogs can face."

Greg said that pavement obstacles such as bikes and signs were some of the hardest things guide dog users had to tackle.

There are now ten guide dogs across Ryedale, but the local branch is determined to fund more.

Greg said: "It costs £50,000 to breed, train and keep a guide dog for life. All this is funded by charity.

"There are 330,000 registered blind people in the UK, but only 5,500 guide dogs.

"We would like to make guide dogs available to more people.

"We are trying to promote the work of the charity.

"Without the dogs, people like me are prisoners in their own homes.

"Two years ago, there were no guide dogs in Malton.

"Now there are three and there are about to be four."

For more information, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/microsites/guide-dogs-week-2015/