GUIDE dog puppy number five will arrive this autumn – but the youngster needs a name!

Thanks to the fantastic support of Ipswich Star and Felixstowe Star readers our latest fundraising appeal for the Guide Dogs charity has today been completed ahead of schedule.

It will pay for a fifth pup to be trained to act as the eyes of a blind or visually-impaired person, giving them a new lease of life and greater independence.

Today we are seeking possible names for the new puppy, which it is hoped will be a son or daughter of our first ever guide dog, Star, and also launching an appeal to raise another �7,000 for a SIXTH pup.

Penny Parker, of the East and Mid Suffolk Guide Dogs fundraising group, said: “It’s fantastic – we have raised the money ahead of target and we cannot thank people enough for the way they have supported us.

“People have given donations, held a variety of sponsored events, and made us their special charity for the year.

“Every penny raised goes to breeding and training a puppy which will make a huge and vital difference to the life of a person with sight problems.”

Over the past five years, more than �33,000 has been raised for the Star’s guide dog appeals thanks to the amazing generosity and wonderful fundraising of readers, organisations and businesses in the area.

Many of those involved have been young people in schools, scouts and guide groups, who have been touched by the work the guide dogs do.

Mrs Parker said it was hoped the new puppy will be from brood bitch Star’s next litter.

“We are hoping for a girl after having a couple of boys with Robson and Sterling, but it depends how many and what sex the pups are, so we need suggestions for girls’ and boys’ names,” she said.

? Send your suggestions for a name for a guide dog to richard.cornwell@archant.co.uk

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