When Malcolm Elrick was nearly mowed down by a motorist because he was standing in the middle of the road instead of on the pavement, he knew it was time to get a guide dog.

Luckily, the grandfather escaped without injury on the road near his home in Crossflatts, Bingley, but had to accept his eyesight was deteriorating.

The father-of-six was born with eye condition congenital nystagmus - an uncontrolled movement of the eyes - and now has just two per cent vision.

But, since his guide dog, Labrador retriever Ember joined the family, he has gained confidence and, with Ember's help, has become an ace golfer.

Mr Elrick, 54, said: "I had been struggling up to the accident, I was trying to see as much as I could and so I didn't realise how much my sight was deteriorating. I was working at Bradford & Bingley and they suggested I get a guide dog.

"At first it was a battle having Ember because, to be honest, I didn't want him but I knew I needed him. It took about 12 months to get to know each other."

Now, whether Mr Elrick wants to get to Horsforth Golf Club, where his partner, Lesley Harrison, 52, is the manager, or to his favourite pub, Ember knows what route to take.

As a director of the English Blind Golf Association, Mr Elrick has played tournaments across the country and abroad and Ember, who is nearly seven, is always by his side. "Sitting on a plane doesn't bother him, he just looks out of the window like anyone would," said Mr Elrick.

Mr Elrick took up golf nine years ago and tried to get Ember involved, but Ember kept retrieving the ball. Now, Ember takes a back seat as he takes his swings.

The game is played in the same way by blind and partially-sighted people, but they have a guide to accompany them.

When he has his harness off, Ember knows he is off-duty. Now Lesley has nominated him for the BBC Breakfast Guide Dog of the Year.

Lesley, who is to marry Malcolm on June 15, said: "Having been with Malcolm before and after Ember, I know he has given him his life back."

To nominate Ember for Guide Dog of the Year, log on to www.guidedogs.org.uk before July 5. Winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on September 6.

e-mail: mel.fairhurst@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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