CUDDLY guide dog puppies played with workers on their lunch breaks in a bid to combat stress and boost happiness.

Employees at Winnersh Triangle met the friendly labradors from Guide Dogs UK on July 3 to find out how it can reduce their anxiety and stress during the working week, while raising funds for the charity.

A team of 12 Guide Dogs and their handlers wanted to raise awareness of how the charity supports people who are blind and partially sighted.

Clive Wood, engagement officer at Guide Dogs, said: “Our charity is the world’s largest trainer of working dogs and over the years has helped more than 29,000 people to achieve life-changing independence.

"Our ambition is a future where every person with sight loss has the confidence and support they need to live their lives to the full."

The event raised more than £800 for the charity by employees who donated money, in return for a cuddle with the dogs.

Katherine Westcar, head of marketing at Frasers Property UK, said: "Guide Dogs is a brilliant charity and the team here are a valued part of our community, so we are really pleased to have supported their fundraising event.

“We’re also really grateful to them for putting on such a rewarding event and contributing to the health and wellbeing of our WinnershLife community."

The Guide Dogs charity allows people who are blind and partially sighted to have a means to live more independently.

There are almost two million people in the UK living with sight loss and this figure is expected to double to four million by 2050.

Clive Wood added: "We have a team of 34 staff based at Winnersh Triangle who, together with volunteers, work to deliver Guide Dogs’ services in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, West Sussex and Surrey.

"The Reading Mobility Team has been based at Winnersh for five years now and, in that time, 228 Guide Dog partnerships have been created.

"Our ‘meet the puppies’ event has become a popular fixture among the business community here.”