A WOMAN who effectively lost her sight 12 years ago has written an e-book about life with her guide dog.

Joanne Roberts and her canine companion Uska are well known in the Carrville area of Durham City.

Mrs Roberts, nee Wood, grew up in the area and went to school at the Belmont and the Framwellgate Moor comprehensive schools.

She had a busy working life in London marketing business conferences but 12 years ago she effectively went blind through diabetes, which she had from her early teens.

Uska has been her friend and guide for seven years, helping her to cope with the devastating loss of such an important sense.

Now, Mrs Roberts has paid tribute to Uska by writing Confessions of a Guide Dog, an e-book released ahead of Guide Dog week, which runs until Sunday (October 12).

Mrs Roberts, 47, who has only peripheral vision in one eye and is registered Severely Sight Impaired, now lives in Chester with her husband David and two stepsons, although she often visits her parents in Durham.

A quarter of the proceeds of the book will go to Guide Dogs UK.

Written from the perspective of a guide dog, she aims to entertain, amuse and tell readers how important guide dogs are to blind people.

She said: “I really wanted people to understand the work that guide dogs do and also that they do bring a lot of laughter.

“I want to raise enough money so I can name another guide dog Uska the Second because he has meant that much to me."

She added: “I am so proud of him even though he is a little so-and-so sometimes.”

The book costs £4.99 and is available from Amazon Books, Apple Books and at http://publisherbookstore.com/shop/joanne-roberts/confessions-guide-dog