A BLIND campaigner fears she will lose her independence and be trapped inside her home when her guide dog is retired from service in just a few months time.

Jill Allen-King OBE, from Westcliff, says she will “not even be able to walk down the road”

when her guide dog, Jagger, retires from service in June.

Anna Firth, Tory MP for Southend West, has led a campaign to see the 82-year-old get a new guide dog and helped Mrs Allen-King be placed on the “priority list”.

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However, Mrs Allen-King fears it could still be two years until she is given a new guide dog.

When Jagger retires, Mrs Allen-King will be allowed to keep him as a pet, but will not be allowed to use him as an assistance dog.

This means she will not be able to use Jagger as a guide dog on public transport or inside shops and businesses.

Mrs Allen-King said: “I am useless without a guide dog and will not be confidently independent at all.

“I will not be able to walk down the pavement without someone being with me.

“I won’t be able to go anywhere alone and I will lose my independence.

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“When they come and take away the dog’s harness, it’s very, very upsetting and I am dreading seeing it happen again.

“It’ll be the first time in 51 years I’ve not had a dog.”

On Friday Mrs Allen-King met with Ms Firth and BBC radio presenter Justin Dealey, who are bidding to raise awareness of the issue.

The campaigner, who won the lifetime achievement award at last year’s Pride of Britain Awards, has helped bring in major changes for the blind and visually-impaired community, such as braille on bus buttons and textured paving at pedestrian crossings and train stations.

She added: “It feels like we are not trusted when our guide dogs are retired. I wouldn’t misuse him or still take him out and work him.

“There are about 1,000 waiting for a new guide dog. I’ve been worried and upset about the situation for a while now.”

Ms Firth also spoke with Pete Osborne, chief operating officer of Guide Dogs UK, who assured her the organisation is doing all it can to help Mrs Allen-King OBE.

Ms Firth said: “There is no doubt about the challenges Guide Dogs UK faces following the pandemic, but I was really pleased to hear that Jill has been placed on a high priority list following my lobbying.”