Chesham and Amersham MP Cheryl Gillan walked blindfolded around the streets of Amersham last week to raise awareness of the challenges that the town's blind and partially sighted residents or visitors face everyday.

Mrs Gillan was accompanied by representatives from Guide Dogs during the Friday afternoon walk on Sycamore Road.

The Chesham and Amersham MP said: "Having had mobility problems myself, I know what a challenge pavement obstructions can be.

"I welcomed the chance to take this walk with Joel and his guide dog Elena, wearing a blindfold to find out what people who are blind or partially-sighted encounter every day.

"As well as supporting the Guide Dogs organisation in their campaign, locally and nationally, I hope that people will be able to give a thought to how they can make things a bit easier for others to get out and about."

Joel Young, Guide Dogs Engagement Officer for Buckinghamshire said: “It was great to meet Cheryl to talk to her about our work and provide her with an experience to help her understand what it is like to get out and about with sight loss.

“I thank Cheryl for taking the time to discuss some of the issues I hear about and experience as a guide dog owner on a regular basis.

"Whether it is a guide dog owner reporting a refusal of access to a taxi or a restaurant or, a person having difficulty walking to work because of street clutter, the meeting was a good opportunity to raise awareness of challenges faced by people with sight loss."

"Street clutter such as pavement parked cars, wheelie bins and overgrown hedges can cause real problems not just for people with sight loss but parents with buggies, people using wheelchairs and those with reduced mobility amongst others."

Guide Dogs’ Streets Ahead survey in 2013 found that 97% of blind or partially sighted people encounter problems with street obstructions, and 90% of those had experienced trouble with a pavement parked car.

The same survey found that nearly 65% of blind and partially sighted people had suffered at least a minor injury from such obstacles.

To find out more about Guide Dogs campaigns visit: www.guidedogs.org.uk/campaigns.