A TEN-year-old girl has suffered permanent damage to her right eye after being struck in the face with a brick.

Nadia Butler, of Birch Street, Bacup, has spoken to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph about the incident while recovering at the home of her gran.

Nadia celebrated her birthday on Saturday, November 17, and was going into the Day and Nite Store on the corner of Union Street and King Street the next day to spend some of her birthday money on her cousins.

She said: "I heard a big bang and thought someone had kicked a car. I turned and saw a man jump out of the car. Then I felt a painful blow on the side of my face.

"I put my hands over my face and ran into the store and my dad came in after me.

"When he saw what the brick had done he went back outside to see if he could catch the people who had thrown it but they had gone."

Some youths had been kicking and possibly stoning a white Vauxhall Astra-type car which was parked on Union Street. Nadia said the driver inside was bearded and in his 40s.

At Burnley General Hospital medics fought to stop her eye from haemorrhaging and although they managed to save it, she has suffered ten per cent loss of vision.

At the hospital Nadia had to be sedated while a needle was inserted into her eye to remove blood clots.

The white of her eye was totally bloodshot while the iris was half covered in blood. She still finds it painful to open her eye and is suffering headaches.

The St Mary's RC School, Bacup, pupil has received more than 60 cards from classmates, family and friends and some from people she doesn't even know.

Her gran Norah Butler said: "The school has been brilliant and have taken messages for us.

The doctors and nurses have been terrific and the police have really worked hard on this.

"I have lived in Bacup all my life and have seen the place go downhill.

"When I was younger doors would always be left open, there was no need to lock them. Neighbours were neighbours and looked after each other.

"I look back and think of all the shops we had and it breaks my heart when I walk down town these days. I never thought I would see things get so bad. It's very bad. Look at the terrible thing that has happened to my granddaughter.

Nadia loves school and was hoping that her consultant at Rossendale Hospital would today give her the all-clear to return to school.

She does not know if she will have to wear glasses permanently.

She was hoping this year to achieve a 100 per cent attendance record, but that hope was dashed last week.

Det Con Steve Eccles said: "We have arrested four young people, all under 16, from the Bacup area. One has been released without further action while the other three are on police bail while our inquiries are continuing.

"We are still appealing for the driver of the vehicle to come forward in confidence and tell us what he saw."

Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or Rossendale CID on 01706 237442.