A SPECIAL visitor got her paws on the car she was named after when she dropped into the Mini Plant in Swindon.

Members of the plant’s workers’ charity fund have sponsored Mini the guide dog, who is now 16 weeks old, and yesterday staff at the plant in Bridge End Road met her for the first time.

The staff were inspired to sponsor the dog after a former engineering manager at the plant, Alan Fletcher, lost his sight due to a genetic disease and now has a guide dog called Joy.

Alan, who is the chairman of Swindon Guide Dogs and worked at the plant for 36 years, said: “It is really excellent they have chosen to sponsor a guide dog and it is pleasing for me because I worked in here as a manager that people wanted to do it.”

Alan retired in 2005 after his sight deteriorated due to retinal dystrophy.

“Joy has made a big difference for me,” he said.

“Being the chairman of Swindon Guide Dogs if I could do something for somebody else to have a guide dog that is just brilliant.

The workers paid £5,000 for the dog and chose to call it Mini if it was a girl or Cooper if it was a boy.

Mini is being cared for by Lyndsey Bardsley, who will train and feed her for 12 months and get her used to everyday situations like getting on the bus.

After a year Mini will be returned to the charity to begin specialised dog training.

John Ellis, of the plant’s trade union, Unite, said: “Everyone who is part of the workers’ charity gives a pound a month through payroll. The fund has been established for many years and a lot of good has been done for different charities.

“Sponsoring Mini was something that everybody wanted to do, obviously with Alan’s connection and Alan worked here a long time.

“This is the first visit Mini has made to the plant and it is an opportunity for the workforce to come and say hello. We will track her progress and Alan gives us regular updates. ”

For information about Swindon Guide Dogs visit www.guidedogs.org.uk or to find out about volunteering to look after a guide dog call Guide Dogs on 0845 371 7771 or email volunteer@ guidedogs.org.uk.