A HAMPSHIRE MP had a taste of what it takes to navigate the streets as a visually impaired person.

Eastleigh's Mims Davies was led round the town centre by guide dog in training Gyp.

It was a bid to increase awareness of the obstacles and difficulties faced by the blind - and for Mims to experience her community in a way she never has before.

But as reported it's also part of a campaign by national charity Guide Dogs to get a new law stopping people from parking on pavements, an obstruction which causes “serious dangers” to visually impaired people.

It comes after a survey by the charity showed that 97 per cent of blind or partially sighted people encounter problems with street obstructions, and 90 per cent of those had experienced trouble with a car parked on a pavement.

A spokesperson for national charity Guide Dogs said the walk was also meant to give Ms Davies the chance to appreciate aspects like tactile paving at crossing points, badly placed street furniture and cars parked on pavements.

They added: "Mims has previously supported Guide Dogs campaigns in Parliament, including our campaign which highlights the issues of pavement parking.

"Cars parked on the pavement can be a dangerous obstruction for people with sight loss, as well as wheelchair users and parents with young children.

"It forces them out in to the road to get past.

"We believe a new law is essential to ensure that pavement parking is addressed across the country."