A FAMILY who watched helplessly as a rare genetic disorder turned their eight-year-old son almost blind are praying that the condition does not affect his two brothers.

Tests have confirmed that two-year-old Christopher Pounder suffers from the same x link progressive cone dystrophy which has left his eight-year-old brother Mathew registered blind.

Checks on nine-year-old Daniel Pounder have so far been inconclusive and the family are living in hope as so far neither boy's eyesight has been affected.

Their mum, Jane, said: "Matthew was born with a squint which we hoped would correct itself as he grew.

"But it all started from there and by the age of two he was registered blind.

"All kinds of tests were carried out and it was some time before it was found to be this genetic disorder. It apparently began with my father who is now in his fifties and partially sighted and was then carried by me and passed on to my boys.

"We found out in October that it has been passed on to Christopher but tests on Daniel have so far been inconclusive." Jane added: "It is an unknown quantity, their eyesight may start to go worse or it may not. Thankfully Daniel and Christopher have had no problems as yet and we just hope and pray that it stays that way.

"People can suffer from it without it affecting their eyesight. But once it happens there is nothing can be done to reverse it."

Mathew's squint developed into a "wobble" and his eyesight has continued to deteriorate.

He can see television if he is very close to and can only read books with exceptionally large print.

But now help has arrived at his home in Todmorden Road. Burnley Lions have presented him with a closed circuit television which allows him to magnify even small print onto the screen.

Mathew's immediate reaction was that it was "wonderful" and among the first things he inspected were wriggly worms from the garden and his collection of Pokemon books.

Jane said: "He had never really seen worms before. He had no idea what they really looked like and he was fascinated."

She said: "He is a very independent boy who likes to do things for himself.

"He has a similar CCTV system at St Stephen's School which was obtained for him about two years ago. He thinks it is brilliant to now have one at home as well. It gives him independence."

Mathew has been a member of the Beavers at St Stephen's and is moving up into the Cubs after the holidays.

Picture: Eight-year-old Mathew Pounder using his special TV