A CUDDLY dinosaur called Dino is helping children come to terms with the loss of one or both eyes, thanks to the creative genius of a local false eye specialist.

Paul Charlesworth of the National Artificial Eye Service (NAES) in Blackpool came up with the initial idea of using a doll to show the children how to clean and look after their artificial eyes in the most child-friendly way possible.

Mr Charlesworth, an orbital prosthetist, explained: "When children lose an eye it's for the rest of their lives. So it is very important that they feel happy about seeing us and that they help us give them the best care.

"The idea of Dino has taken years to come to fruition because of the fine tuning needed -- but I have no doubt that, in terms of the dividends with youngest patients, it will be well worth the time-consuming work."

Nine-year-old Nathan Young of Commonside, Ansdell, who lost his eye to retino blatoma -- a cancer of the retina -- when he was a baby, put Dino to the test.

And mum Joanne told The Citizen: "It was the first time he had seen the dinosaur and he said it was really cool. Even I found it useful and I think it will help other children and their parents immensely.

"It could also help other friends and relatives understand exactly what an artificial eye is and how it looks."

Ocular technician Paula Arnold, who made the first prototype dinosaur, said of Dino: "Small children who have lost an eye are very special patients. We wanted to help them come to terms with the idea of removing an eye to clean ita and to understand at their own level that an artificial eye can look very real and that they can live a full and normal life."

It was the very special relationship between prosthetists and their patients, particularly children, which recently won the NAES a government Charter Mark for their excellent service within the NHS.

The artificial eyes are only made at the Blackpool centre on Bristol Avenue, Bispham, and are sent throughout England to eligible patients. They presently make around 6,000 eyes a year to improve quality of life for thousands of people.

CHILD FRIENDLY: Nathan gets to know Dino watched by Paul Charlesworth and Paula Arnold