Celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of training guide dogs for the blind in Britain start this week.

Reporter David Bartlett spoke to university lecturer Anne Savirimuthu about losing her sight and getting a guide dog which helped transform her life

Similar to many students Anne Savirimuthu went to university, studied English and planned to become a teacher.

But during her second year at Leeds University in 1983 her world was turned upside down when she lost her eyesight as a result of renal failure and diabetes.

"Within 12 months I had renal failure, lost my sight, and got pneumonia, I left university feeling extremely ill.

"The thought of not seeing anything again was a very painful and scary experience," she said.

By January 1985 Anne had been accepted by the Guide Dogs for the Blind to have her first dog -- Wilma.

"One fundamental aspect of rehabilitation after losing your sight is regaining your mobility, and getting Wilma was marvellous.

"When you lose your sight it makes you lose your confidence, but she helped me get that back."

Anne, 44 realised she needed to get a degree in a vocational subject and decided to study law at Lancaster University.

While at Lancaster she met her husband Joseph, who was also studying law and helped read texts to her. She graduated in 1988 top of her year with a first.

She said it was while studying to be a solicitor at Manchester Polytechnic, now Manchester Metropolitan University, that having a guide dog came into its own.

"Commuting from Moss Side to Manchester on a bus in rush hour was a nightmare, it would have been impossible without Wilma," she added.

In 1989 Anne became a law lecturer at Preston Polytechnic, now the University of Central Lancashire, where she still works today.

Anne, who lives in Penwortham, now has her third guide dog Ginny and said she could not manage without one.

"Having a guide dog is absolutely crucial for my work," she added.

It costs more than £5,000 to train a guide dog, and currently about 4,700 people in the UK have one.

Visit www.guidedogs.org.uk for more information about the 75th anniversary.

Anne said Ginny had originally been destined for former cabinet minister, David Blunkett but was deemed to be too shy of traffic to aid the blind MP.