THE widow of the first blind man to receive a guide dog from Bolton's training centre used her 90th birthday to raise cash for the charity.

Florrie Flanagan, whose late husband Bill was made honorary president of the Guide Dogs For The Blind Association, asked for donations at her birthday party instead of presents.

The £150 raised at Florrie's party at Bolton Cricket Club has been donated to the association. Her family will be adding more money in order to buy a bench in Bill's memory.

The bench will be fitted with a plaque and situated in the grounds of the Guide Dog Centre on Lowndes Street.

Florrie, a great grandmother, lives at St Matthew's Terrace in Bolton.

Her husband, Bill, a former textile worker, lost his sight in 1935 after getting acid in his eyes.

He did not allow his handicap to become an obstacle and he devoted 40 years to raising money for the charity. He died last year, aged 92. Florrie's son-in-law, Brian Caswell, said: "The association was very pleased and we are looking forward to buying the bench in the coming weeks."