A guide dog and his owner, who together carried the Paralympic Torch in last month’s relay, have paid a visit to Steam museum, so the pooch could meet his namesake.

Brunel and owner Tom McInulty regularly travel up and down the country, meeting members of the Macular Disease Society.

Tom joined the society in 2008, as group support and development manager, and now manages 98 of the network of 250 MDS self-help groups in the country.

On Tuesday, Tom and Brunel, who recently won the Outstanding Work 2012 Guide Dog Award, stopped off at Steam, to the delight of museum staff.

Events manager Carolyn Lovett said: “Brunel is a very special dog. He is connected to Steam because Swindon Guide Dogs raise money every year at the Christmas at Steam event and sponsored his name.

“While he was here, he had his photo taken next to our statue of his namesake.

“Brunel and his owner were both absolutely charming.”

Tom has been a guide dog owner since 1990 and Brunel is his third dog. Before Tom lost his sight in 1983 in an accident, he had worked in the Merchant Navy from the age of 16.

Climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge, running the London Marathon twice, cycling around the New Forest and walking the West Highland Way in Scotland, are just a few of the fundraising projects Tom has taken part in over the years, to raise money for different charities.