Victoria Harrison has been appointed the UK's next ambassador to Slovenia. As the country's first blind ambassador she will succeed Tiffany Sadler in August, the UK embassy in Ljubljana announced on 12 April.

Harrison will be the first ambassador to be accompanied by a guide dog, her two-year-old labrador golden retriever cross named Otto.

Born in Dumfries in Scotland, Harrison joined the UK diplomatic service in 1997 as the first person with a declared disability to be recruited by the Foreign Office.

Her career included postings to Helsinki and Sarajevo, as well as working on the Ukraine response and Afghanistan.

Victoria Harrison, the UK's next ambassador to Slovenia, pictured with her guide dog, Otto. Photo: UK embassy in Slovenia

Following the appointment, Harrison said she is honoured to represent the UK as the next ambassador to Slovenia and to be the UK's first blind ambassador.

"I have been learning Slovenian for the past year and the more I learn about Slovenia, the more I am looking forward to living and working here, accompanied by my guide dog, Otto," she was quoted as saying.

Ambassador Sadler said she was delighted when she heard her old friend Victoria Harrison will succeed her, adding that she she will bring a wealth of diplomatic experience to the role.

"I have loved my three and a half years here and will be sad to leave. But it will be a pleasure and honour to hand over to such a brilliant colleague," she said.