A PRESTON woman has left more than £21,000 to Bolton's guide dogs training centre - because she was so impressed by the stories told to her by a relative who worked as a volunteer puppy walker. Mrs Eva Leary, who was in her 80s, left a total of more than £60,000 in her will to three charities including the famous Bolton based centre in Lowndes Street where dogs are trained to lead the blind. The other charities to benefit are Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Retired weaver Mrs Leary, was well known in the Preston area through her roles in many amateur operatic productions.

She specifically asked that the money she left to the RNLI should benefit the Lytham St Annes Lifeboat Station.

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association say the money left to the Bolton centre will be a Godsend.

It will be used to train more dogs from puppies to the stage where they are able to enhance the mobility and independence of blind people.

A spokesman said: "The association greatly appreciates Mrs Leary's generous bequest."

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