A STUDENT fears he could lose the sight in one of his eyes following a vicious and unprovoked attack in the street.

The 21-year-old Sean Fletcher, of Highfield Street, Haslingden, was punched in the face by a man police describe as heavily built Army-type assailant as he handed out leaflets for a pub.

He was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary and had stitches in his face and around his eyes and also suffered a fractured cheekbone.

Sean, who already has problems with a lazy eye, suffered permanent damage in the other eye as a result of the attack.

His cornea was scarred and the Blackburn College business studies student now has reduced vision in both eyes. Sean was wearing fancy dress at the time of the attack and his dark sunglasses were smashed and caused serious injuries. He was also wearing a white 70s style suit and a large afro-style red wig.

Sean, who is hoping to go to university next year, said: "It was the second weekend I had worked at the club and it all happened so quickly.

"I think I bumped into this girl and the next thing this fist came flying into my face. I suppose I was really lucky because I could have lost the sight in my eye. "The doctors told me to take it easy for a couple of weeks and my vision was very blurred at first, we didn't know how badly it was going to be affected for a long time."

The attack took place shortly before 11pm on Saturday, May 27, outside the Oxygen bar in Duke Street, Blackburn.

The attacker was white, aged around 28, 6ft 4in, of large build with short, dark hair. He was wearing a white, white long sleeved shirt.

The thug was with a white woman, who is in her early 20s, small with shoulder-length mousy hair.

Police have interviewed Sean and a doorman who was working at the Oxygen bar but are still appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Anyone with information about the attack should ring PC Mark Pettitt on 01254 51212.