SHOOTING hero Ian Peel today lifted the lid on the devastating eye problem which almost stopped him setting his sights on Olympic glory -- because he couldn't see the targets properly.

Silver medal winner Ian, from Great Harwood, once feared he would never shoot again after being struck with deteriorating eyesight which dashed his dreams of ever competing at the highest level again.

The 42-year-old's plan to return to Olympic action after his appearance at the 1988 Seoul Olympics was wrecked when his eyesight started to fade following the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

Ian, who works in the textile industry, had had perfect vision.

He said: "Shooting had been such a major part of my life until then, and to be removed from the sport for four years really destroyed me.

"I tried glasses but they didn't help me. I didn't make the national team at all and I thought it was all over.

"Obviously good eyesight is vital for this sport and nothing seemed to be able to stop mine from getting worse."

Ian was on the point of giving up when, in 1994, he was asked to try a special pair of soft contact lenses. They seemed to do the trick and corrected his short-sight, enabling him to see well enough to compete again, and stopped the deterioration of his vision. The discovery meant that although he missed his chance to compete in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, he was able to get back in training in time for the qualifiers for the Sydney Olympics -- which he believed was his last chance to shoot for an honour in the competition.

He added: "I was delighted that I was able to start competing again. I took part in several competitions and fortunately I hit a good patch of form which stayed with me right until I won silver in Sydney.

"Standing on the podium was great. It was moment I had thought would never happen when my eyesight went. It is one of those moments I will treasure forever.

"I hope people are inspired by my winning a medal and go on to do the same."

Ian's win gave Britain their first medal in Clay Pigeon Shooting since 1968, when Mark Braithwaite won.

Veteran Olympiad Joe Neville has been his coach throughout Ian's turbulent past few years.

He said: "I knew he would do well. He has performed excellently recently. He really deserves this.

"He hit form at the right time. It is great to see him do so well, especially having seen him so down in the doldrums when his eyesight failed."