A DEVASTATED mother today spoke about the agonising wait while doctors battle to restore the sight in her son's right eye.

"It's just a question of waiting and keeping our fingers crossed," said Sue Freear, mother of 22-year-old Simon Frith.

He has already undergone one emergency operation to remove glass from the retina after a glassing attack.

Simon was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary on New Year's Day following an incident at the Office pub in Holden Fold, Darwen.

Specialist surgeons at Burnley General Hospital will try to remove more pieces today but are unsure whether Simon's sight will be restored.

Sue, 50, who lives with her son on St James' Estate, Darwen, said: "Doctors aren't giving anything away and even they don't know if this operation is going to work or not.

"After the last operation, the surgeons thought the bleeding in the eye might stop but it hasn't.

"As a result, he needs major surgery and no-one has any idea what damage the glass has caused.

"He can see a little bit now but he can only look straight ahead and can't see things to the side of him.

"It's been so difficult for him but he has five brothers and a sister who drives from Lincoln to see him. Everybody, his friends and family, have been fantastic and it's so important for Simon to know that everyone is always here for him."

Since the first operation, Simon, a worker for Whitebirk surgical equipment company Ortex has paid weekly visits to Blackburn Royal Infirmary and has taken a concoction of eye drops every two hours of the day.

The incident has turned his world upside down, according to Sue.

She said: "He has still been able to do his job but everything else has changed. When you think about it, eyes affect everything you do from standing up and lifting to walking.

"He used to play for the Akzo Nobel football team but he doesn't do that any more.

"He's very quiet and doesn't like to talk about it, so it's not something that's discussed.

"All we can do now is hope it goes our way."