A Newcastle specialist centre for blind and partially sighted people was declared an example to the rest of the country by David Blunkett yesterday.

The Sheffield MP who has been blind since birth praised the state-of-the-art learning facility at Newcastle College in partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

The former Home Secretary and Education Secretary met some of the students who use the centre and had a tour of the facility in the Armstrong Building with his guide dog Sadie.

Mr Blunkett said: “This is unique and if we had one of these in every region in the country it would be extremely good for students of all ages. The partnership is giving students self esteem and self belief. This is about freedom not just opportunity. The freedom and the quality of investment in the future that other people take for granted.

“As this develops further many more students will move on to employment and independence making a contribution to the community.”

Since the partnership, which was formed in 2005, the number of blind and partially sighted students in the college has increased from three to 40.

Student Linda Barella, of Seahouses, North Sunderland, has no central vision and some peripheral vision. She is helped by her guide dog four-year-old black Labrador retriever Fizz. The 54-year-old runs her own holistic therapies business Beyond and is studying Swedish massage at the college.

“I would recommend anyone to come. Some people who think they might have problems stay at home and don’t realise what they are missing.”

While visiting the North-East the former home secretary said of new Prime Minister Gordon Brown: “I think after the hiccup we had in the autumn the New Year has been much better.

“He has greater confidence and a clear perspective on where the government is going.”