BLIND and partially sighted people from across Hampshire have shown charity bosses how angry they are at plans to sell off their guide dog training centre.

At a three-hour meeting behind closed doors, they heard the chief executive of Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (GDBA) outline why the Southampton centre had to close.

Afterwards, members of the Southampton Society of the Blind explained their anger at losing the Bassett Avenue training centre.

Wayne Vincent, 39, of Itchen View, Mansbridge, with his dog Ranger, called the decision a "disaster".

"It will make everything a lot harder," he said. "People have had enough. They don't want to lose the centre. It is so special and the staff are so special."

The GDBA is planning to sell off its 23 buildings across the country and replace them with office space. Room for guide dog training will be rented, possibly in hotels - a deeply unpopular idea with many at the meeting.

Tina Snow, who had travelled from the Isle of Wight for the event, said: "It is a very emotional time training a guide dog and you can't have the support you need in a hotel or a university. I wouldn't contemplate going to train in a hotel.

"I would like Southampton to be saved," she added.

Chief executive of the GDBA Geraldine Peacock confirmed to the Daily Echo that the decision to close the Southampton centre had been made, but said what would replace it was still to be decided.

She said the "grand old charity" was restructuring its finances and had to ask whether centres like Southampton that was used "just six per cent of the time", were value for money.

"It's about delivering services in a different way," she said. "I wouldn't be arrogant enough to say people will be better off but I hope they get through the change to find they have a much better service.

"We want this to be an organisation that empowers people, not one that tells them how to have their services delivered. What happens instead of this building will be down to local people to decide."

Hampshire GDBA representative Tom McInulty said: "The members are a bit worried about this. Ninety-eight per cent of them are happy with the service they get from the centre.

"It is a focal point for them. People get to know the staff and they wouldn't get that stuck in a hotel or a B&B."