A TROWBRIDGE great grandmother is nearing her £5,000 target to name and sponsor her third guide dog thanks to a successful auction in Southwick over the weekend.

Linda Dowsett, of Hollis Way first started raising money for Guide Dogs UK in 2011 after her husband Gordon suddenly passed away.

It was during his funeral that she managed to raise a considerable amount for his favourite charity which spurred her on to raise enough to name and sponsor a puppy in honour of her late husband.

Now, nearly five years on, she has managed to raise over £10,000 for Guide Dogs and now sponsors puppies Gordon and Jim.

Auctioning off 100 items on Saturday, the 70-year-old is now £500 away from being able to name her third puppy after raising £739.85 from the fundraiser.

“The fundraiser went unbelievably well and I was so happy with how much money we managed to raise,” she said.

“When I first started fundraising for Guide Dogs I said I would aim to raise enough money to name five dogs and well I’m £500 away from raising enough to name a third puppy which will be called Rosie.

“The best thing about doing all of this is that I’ve been able to keep in touch with Gordon the puppy and his owner who live in Kent and when we first met he said I was the last piece of the puzzle of getting his life back because without Gordon he wouldn’t be able to do half the things he does now.

“Once I've raised enough to name five guide dogs, I think I will retire but either way I hope my husband would be proud of me.”

Mrs Dowsett will be holding another fundraiser in the next two months in hope of hitting £5,000 by Christmas.