A DISTRAUGHT mother today relived her worst nightmare as she revealed a knife slasher had left her teenage son scarred for life.

Lee Myers, 18, of Blakeley Crescent, Barnoldswick, has undergone plastic surgery.

He was cut from cheek to cheek after a row in the street at 12.45am on Saturday.

Surgeons at Royal Preston Hospital have also operated to repair damaged nerves and tendons in his left wrist, which was slashed three times in the attack.

Lee's mother Julia Myers today appealed for people to help police.

She said: "If they can do this to Lee, what could they do to someone else? Please, if anyone knows who did this, contact the police."

Mrs Myers described the attack, in a ginnel off Lower North Avenue, Barnoldswick, as a mother's worst nightmare and said she kept thinking it was a dream and she may wake up.

Lee, a former student of West Craven High School who now works for Rose County Meats in Gisburn, remained in the Royal Preston Hospital today.

Medics have said it is too early to predict what the long-term damage to Lee's wrist may be, but he will need physiotherapy once the wounds heal.

He was also slashed in the chest, leg, fingers and ear. His three friends had their their jeans cut and one was slashed four times in the neck.

Police have still to recover a knife and there is no description of the weapon.

Lee's friends carried him to the Spar Shop, Gisburn Road, where they telephoned the police and ambulance and Lee's mother.

Mrs Myers said: "I don't think they realised at first how badly injured Lee was. When I arrived he was covered in blood and he had a mask on to help his breathing because he has asthma. I tried to get to him but I was a nervous wreck.

"I got into the ambulance with him but his wounds were still open and I couldn't look at him. I just got out and was sick."

Lee was taken to Burnley General Hospital for treatmentand was transfered to Royal Preston for specialist surgery.

Mrs Myers has been able to speak to her son since the attack but said he was on morphine and very drowsy. She said: "My family and friends have been absolutely fantastic and the phone has not stopped with people asking after him.

"I have three children and I have brought them up virtually on my own. It is the worst thing that could ever happen to a mother - the worst thing that has happened to me in my life. I have not slept since and I can't eat.

"It is unbelievable. You hear about these things on TV and read about it in the paper, you never think it will happen to one of your own."

Lee's brother Scott, 15, and sister Zoe, 17, have been devastated by the attack.

DS Steve Mounsey said the police initially sealed off the scene and had been carrying out inquiries over the weekend.

Anyone knows the identity of the attacker or who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Burnley police on 01282 425001.