FELIXSTOWE: This cute, cuddly bundle of fun is the Evening Star’s newest guide dog.

Robson – named after Ipswich Town’s legendary manager Sir Bobby – is the fourth pup paid for by the fantastic generosity of readers, business and organisations in the area, who have raised more than �32,000 in the past three years.

Today we are launching a new appeal to raise a further �7,500 – for the breeding and basic training of a FIFTH puppy.

Eight-week-old Robson arrived this week at the home of puppy walker Penny Parker and is slowly getting to know his new surroundings.

He’s been poorly with a tummy upset for a couple of days but he is expected to soon perk up – and quickly become an energetic handful.

“He’s a bit sleepy at the moment but that will change pretty quickly in the next day or two!” said Mrs Parker, of Western Avenue, Felixstowe.

“It’s like looking after a new baby when they are this small and can be quite nerve-wracking.

“It’s exciting, too, though – and getting to know a new puppy is great fun, the differences in a new personality to the dogs we have had before, a new routine, all their little ways.”

Robson was one of a litter of eight born to first Evening Star guide dog puppy Star.

He may be tiny now and full of innocence, but within days he will begin taking the first steps on the journey which will hopefully see him become a guide dog, the eyes of a blind or visually-impaired person.

His companionship and guidance will give his owner a freedom that they would never otherwise be able to enjoy, able to get out and about in the community in safety.

Over the coming weeks, Mrs Parker will expose Robson to a wide variety of different experiences so that he will be comfortable with all the situations he could face.

He will get used to crowds, noisy children, traffic, shops, theatres, town centres, various events and public transport. He will also have to learn basic commands.

Mrs Parker said Sterling, who left Felixstowe in September for the next stage of his training, was making good progress, training alongside his sister Zara at Redbridge.

“We still miss Sterling. It’s horrible when the you have had a dog for a year and then they have to move on – you never quite get hardened to it even though I have done it so many times,” she said.

? To donate to the appeal, send cheques – made payable to Guide Dogs – to Richard Cornwell, Felixstowe editor, Evening Star, 172 Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk, IP11 7DU.

n Are you a partially sighted or blind person? Has a guide dog changed your life? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or you can send an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk