Pupils at Penryn Junior School had one final visit from PJ, the guide dog they had named, before he left Cornwall to continue his training last week.

The school were given the chance to name PJ as a puppy after choosing to donate £2,000 they had raised during a World Book Day sponsored read to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

Since then he has visited several times with puppy walker June Scott, but last week was his final visit before he is sent to Leamington Spa for advanced training, although she says she hopes he might be able to return to the West Country should a suitable owner be found.

June said: “He’s been very well received, the children worked very hard to raise the £2,000 in six weeks, which was amazing.

“They have been very supportive: this is the third visit so the children can see how he’s growing, and it’s been very interesting because it’s put Penryn on the map in Devon where I’m from. I tell people about how wonderful the children of Penryn Junior School are and that’s where the initials PJ come from.”

Janice Eddy, assistant head and literacy co-ordinator at the school, said: “The children are very excited to see him: it’s always a pleasure, as he always does a tour of the classrooms.”