GUIDE dog trainers are being given free bus travel.

Any puppy trainer working for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association will be able to travel free on all First Bus services as long as they show their ID card.

The aim is to enable dog trainers and volunteer puppy walkers to familiarise the puppies in bus travel.

Leon Daniels, commercial director for First UK Bus, said: "First is committed to providing a safe and reliable bus service to all members of the local community where we operate and we are very pleased to be able to assist guide dogs in this way.

"This initiative is equivalent to a donation of over £600,000.

"We know how important it is for a guide dogs to feel confident and comfortable on public transport, so they can assist their owner."

Jessica Stickland, spokesman for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, said: "The guide dog helps to provide freedom, mobility and independence, but because visually impaired people are unable to drive, for longer journeys it is essential that the guide dog owner is welcome on accessible public transport.

"The association is extremely grateful to First for this fantastic support."

It takes around a year to train a guide dog puppy and then a further six months of preparation before the guide dog is teamed-up with its blind or partially-sighted owner.

Mr Davies, managing director for First's bus operations in Greater Manchester, said: "We are committed to making public transport across the county accessible to as many people as possible.

"And, with guide dogs committed to providing independence to blind and partially sighted people, this is a wonderful joint venture."