'It's a pleasure to do my shopping with him' – blind customer thanks Kieran for his help

Asda customer Michael Fuller – who's been blind since birth – has formed a close bond with our colleague Kieran O'Rourke who helps him do his shopping almost daily and then walks him safely to his front door.

Front-end runner Kieran, who's 23, takes Michael's arm and walks him around our Strelley store in Nottingham, picking up all the items he needs, before packing his bags, helping him to pay, and making sure he gets home safely.

Michael, who's 71, said he would be lost without Kieran, as well as our other colleagues who help him when Kieran's not around.

He said: "Kieran's such a nice, helpful lad; it's such a pleasure to do my shopping with him.

"Before we start off I will give him a rough idea of what I'm looking for because I know where most things are in the store and in what order we need to go. Kieran remembers what I usually get and he also points out new items and things I may like too.

"I go on most days and that's the idea so I don't have to get an awful lot all in one go."

Kieran grabs all the items Michael needs and then helps him through the checkout before walking him home to his wife, Wendy.

Michael, who's a retired civil servant, said: "The store's on a very, very busy road. Getting there is traumatic enough, but I do need some help getting back with my shopping and Kieran kindly brings me back. He is really, really good."

Kieran, who's helped Michael on an almost daily basis since he joined the store three years ago, said: "He's a really good bloke and he's always saying that our store is the best. We've developed quite a bond and we get on really well.

"Michael doesn't do big shops, but comes in for bits and pieces almost every day. He doesn't have a list, he just does it from memory. He may come in twice a day if he's forgotten something!

"We talk about all sorts really – how his wife is, what he got up to when he was younger. He loves cooking and is always giving out tips too."

Although he lives on the same street as the store, Michael has to cross a busy road which can often take him takes him a long time if he doesn't have Kieran with him.

Kieran's been nominated for an Asda service superstar award for his kindness, but he says he is just doing what comes naturally.

He said: "I think it's nice to treat someone the way you would like to be treated if you were in a similar situation."

Store manager Laura Morris said: "Michael comes to our store particularly because of Kieran's help and is extremely grateful. He told us he's our customer for life as he doesn't receive the same level of customer service from anywhere else he goes.

"Kieran is amazing with all his customers, but with Michael he definitely goes above and beyond. Well done Kieran, keep up the great work."