When looking for someone to help your child read, have you ever thought about possibly a dog?

That is what Gunner, Orpington’s resident therapy dog, has been doing this half-term break at Nugent Shopping Centre.

Gunner, a six-year-old German Shepherd, is part of the Therapy Dogs Nationwide charity which qualifies dos to take part in therapy sessions.

The idea behind them is that Gunner passes no judgement on the children’s ability to read, while many adults might do, allowing the kids to read uninterrupted and build their confidence.

Tina Powley, centre manager at Nugent, said: “We are always looking for new experiences to offer customers while they shop with us, and we were keen to put on an event that would not only be fun for children during the half-term break, but also educational.

“Gunner went down brilliantly with children and parents alike, and it was brilliant to see and hear the children bring the stories to life.”

When not helping children read, Gunner has many other jobs including visiting care homes, primary schools and special needs schools across Orpington as part of his dog therapy duties.

Lois Hyett, Gunner’s owner and volunteer at Therapy Dogs Nationwide, said: “Gunner has been a therapy dog since he was 11 months old. His temperament and character led me to apply to join the charity and I’m proud of all the work he has done to date to help people across the region.

“Myself and Gunner love getting out and meeting people across the region and thoroughly enjoyed our time at Nugent.”