A SERVICE which trains dogs to help people with disabilities has received a grant.

The International Service Dog Fund, based in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, has been awarded £400 from the North Eastern and Cumbrian Co-op's community dividend fund.

The money has been used to buy dog coats, beds, leads and training equipment.

The charity, run by dog trainer Ian Young, trains rescue dogs to meet the needs of their future owners, so they can carry out tasks for disabled or elderly people.

Some dogs are trained to work with schools and colleges where education programmes have been developed on subjects ranging from responsible dog ownership to social responsibility and disabilities.

Each dog takes about 400 hours to be trained.