CHILDREN at a Rochford primary school have been reading to guide dogs as they learn what it takes to train a puppy.

Rachel Welch, headteacher at Waterman Primary School, is running the London Marathon to raise money for Guide Dogs For the Blind – the school’s chosen charity – and arranged for guide dog puppies to visit the school.

Harrison is a regular at the school now and his owner Chris Dunn brings him in to listen to the children read.

Mrs Welch said: “I think Harrison is probably bored of ‘reading’ books by now, but he is such a good dog and it’s great for the kids.

“We raised money last year to sponsor a dog puppy while it gets trained and the kids love getting the ‘pupdates’ on Rufus.

“It gives them an idea about what it takes to train a dog and howmuch they help blind people.”