Problems caused for blind and partially sighted people by cluttered streets were demonstrated at an event to mark Guide Dog Week which began on Monday.

A money-raising and information stall was set up in Whitefriars, Canterbury. Lord Mayor Cllr Carolyn Parry and her husband Stephen were blindfolded and walked around the square with a guide dog to see what it is like for a blind person in a busy town centre.

Shoppers were invited to donate change and talk to blind and partially sighted people who were there with their dogs.

Free “sighted guiding” DVDs and leaflets were also handed out.

The aim was to show people how busy and cluttered high streets, road junctions, crowded shops or obstacles on pavements can cause problems for people with a loss of sight.

Geraint Evans, the district team manager for the charity in Kent and East Sussex said: “Guide Dog Week is a national event and one of the main aims this year was to show how sighted people could help those who are blind and partially sighted.”