KENT-based actor Shaun Williamson has added his weight to a campaign to see a dedicated charity worker awarded the MBE posthumously for his work for the blind.

Dennis Eldridge, who was a cornerstone of Canterbury Guide Dogs for the Blind and founded the city’s talking newspaper for the blind, died just days before a letter arrived telling him he had been awarded the honour.

The offer of the MBE was withdrawn when the Prime Minister’s office was told he had passed away following a fall at his home. Posthumous awards are against protocol.

Mr Eldridge’s daughter-in-law Margaret Eldridge said Dennis’ brother Cecil requested he be honoured in such a way five years ago.

She said: “It’s a shame he wasn’t honoured sooner, then we wouldn’t have had this trouble. Some people do a one-off thing and get a medal. Dennis spent the whole of his life doing things. It is terrible if the award is taken away at the last minute.”

MP Julian Brazier and the Kentish Gazette senior editor Bob Bounds have written to the Prime Minister’s office, asking that Mr Eldridge’s widow Betty is allowed to collect the honour on his behalf.

Support has also come from Lord Mayor of Canterbury Cllr Marion Attwood, Cllr Fred Whitemore and Canterbury Lions Club.

Now Mr Williamson, who played Barry Evans in EastEnders, has joined the campaign. The actor, who lives near Faversham, knew Mr Eldridge through his work for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

He said: “Dennis was a great guy who dedicated his life to the welfare of others. He worked tirelessly over many years to improve the quality of life of people who, like himself, were blind.

“If the award is not granted, it will be a triumph of red tape over common sense and true deserving.”