A CHARITY has helped to launch a new set of postage stamps that pay tribute to the vital help that man's best friends can give to their human owners.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, based in Wycombe Road, Saunderton, hosted the unveiling event, ahead of the new range of stamps going on sale today.

Werther, a Lhasa Apso, and his deaf owner Jeanette Joynson, joined several other hearing dogs to help celebrate the working dogs last Friday.

Jenny Moir, Hearing Dogs' head of PR, said: "The whole idea of the year is to highlight that there are 6,500 working dogs around the UK, which I don't think people realise."

And she added that Werther was the perfect pooch to help model the stamps. She said: "We set up one of our recipients with little Werther. He liked having his photo taken - he was named after Werther's Originals. He had his picture taken holding a telephone, as we thought this area - of how the dogs listen for sounds - is one we wanted to highlight."

Assistance Dogs (UK), which campaigns to improve the rights of people using support animals, includes Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Dogs for the Disabled, Canine Partners and Support Dogs.

Ms Moir added she thought it was a shame the hearing dogs their own stamp, but still thought the campaign would give the organisation a welcome boost. She said: "It's a shame they didn't feature a hearing dog as well, but we're all really pleased - it will help raise the impact of the dog on disabled people, and we can't ask for more than that. Royal Mail stamps are obviously seen by everyone who uses them and the fact that first class stamps will have the words "Assistance Dogs" on them will really raise the profile."

The stamps will be available until February 28, and feature dogs snapped by Tim Flach - the man behind the famous Andrex puppy adverts.

For more information on Assistance Dogs (UK), go to www.assistancedogs.org.uk