A PARTIALLY blind man, who tried to stop vandals attacking a Bury church, may never see again.

The 52-year-old, who does not want to be named, faces an anxious wait to discover whether he will regain the use of his right eye after he was struck by a stone thrown by a group of baying teenagers.

An urgent police appeal has now been launched to catch the six-strong gang who continued to attack their victim despite his pleas for them to stop.

The man, who was born without sight in his left eye, is currently in Birch Hill Hospital, Rochdale, where eye-specialists are waiting for swelling to ease before establishing whether the injured eye can be saved.

The victim was attacked on March 26 outside the Holy Trinity RC Church in East Street, Bury.

Only the intervention of a "good samaritan" prevented the grandfather from suffering further injuries.

Recalling the incident from his hospital bed, the divorcee said: "A group of boys were throwing stones at the church and I shouted at them to step.

"They turned and began throwing the stones at me. In a split second I saw one boy raise his arm and throw something toward me and it hit me in the eye with great force." He added: "I cried out for them to stop throwing stones at me and shouted that I had been blinded. They just carried on."

The victim was taken home by a mystery passer-by and spent the next five days in constant pain before blindly fumbling his way to a neighbour's house to summon help.

The unemployed man is now determined for the culprits to be caught before they attack someone else.

He said: "I have been changed from a happy go luck, independent person to nothing thanks to these youths. I don't know how I am going to manage if I cannot see again.

"I want my eyesight back and I want these youngsters caught because if they can do this to me they would do it to others. I am sure they have bragged about it to their friends."

Describing the attack as sickening and horrendous, Detective Constable Derek Bamford is leading the hunt for the youths and for the good samaritan who escort the victim to safety.

The detective said: "While it is not clear whether the injured man will see, the good samaritan could have vital evidence as to the identification of these thugs.

"The injury to the eye was caused by a boy described as being 14-years of age with short, unkempt hair and who was wearing white clothing.

"We are anxious to speak to anyone who witnessed or has information about this attack. We urge them to call us immediately."

DC Bamford can be contacted on 0161 856 8150. Alternatively, confidential information can be directed to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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