THE memory of a dedicated supporter of the Guide Dogs has been honoured by having a puppy named after him.

Frank Rixon MBE, of Amesbury, who died in September 2014, had been helping to raise £5,000 for the Salisbury and District Guide Dogs Name a Puppy Appeal, which goes towards paying for the first year of guide dog training.

To thank him for his years of dedication and support the charity's Salisbury branch named its fourth black Labrador puppy Rixon.

Frank's family joined Salisbury District Guide Dog representatives at the Holiday Inn to meet seven-month-old Rixon for the first time.

Frank's daughter, Margaret Bues, said: "He would have been over-the-moon [to have a puppy named after him]."

She said it was a shame he was not around to see it but he knew the family would carry on his work to meet the fundraising target.

"He was a brilliant man. We are very proud of him," she added.

Over the years the 93-year-old had collected bottle tops and stamps to fundraise for the charity and instead of family and friends buying presents for his birthday he would ask them to donate money to Guide Dogs instead.

Debbie Furnell, of the Salisbury District Guide Dogs group, said: "It was our way of saying thank you. It is in his memory. I think he would have been very proud that we have done that.

"It is a nice way of remembering him as well. He was such a lovely man."

Debbie said Rixon is doing really well with his puppy walking training. When he is 12 or 13 months old he will go off to complete his advanced training to become a qualified guide dog.