A 16-YEAR-OLD student today told of how he went blind over a weekend after being struck down by a rare and devastating disease.

And health experts said Michael Harrison is probably the only boy in East Lancashire with the symptoms of Leber's Optic Neuropathy, which has no cure.

Michael, of Badger Close, Padiham, thought he had a cold in his left eye when he woke up one Friday morning with an orange film obstructing his vision.

As the day went on his sight became more restricted and doctors frantically carried out tests to find what had caused the nerves behind his eye to swell.

But the following day he could not see out of it at all. And by Monday morning exactly the same had happened to his right eye.

Doctors finally diagnosed Michael with the rare condition and broke the news that he would never see again.

Hours after his diagnosis Michael received his provisional driving licence, which he will never be able to use, crushing his plans to become a chauffeur.

The disease is heriditary and is probably carried by his mother but the family have no record of any relative suffering from the condition.

The brave teenager said he was not going to let his illness, symptoms of which were triggered by an infection in August, affect his life.

The disease, which affects only one in every 30,000 people between 16-24 has no warning of its onset and cannot be treated.

Most people with the condition, which damages the optic nerve, lose their sight over a period of months, with a gap of a month or two between the first and second eye, but in Michael's case the process was much faster.

Michael said his family, mum Cath, 46, a machinist, dad, David, 51, a delivery driver and sister 12-year-old Nicola had been very supportive.

He said: "People have actually been very surprised how I have coped with this. But I am not going to let it stop me from getting on with my life.

"I couldn't believe what was happening though. I didn't think anything of the film at first. I thought I would just go to the doctors and it would go away. I never thought I would never see again.

"My mum and dad have been great. My mum has been looking it up on the internet so we know all about it.

"I still go out with my friends, maybe not quite as I used to but they still include me.

"My sister, Nicola keeps forgetting but I quite like that. It means she still thinks of me as normal.

"People also keep bumping into me in the street. I haven't got a stick yet so people don't know.

"When I was in Asda a man walked into me and told me to watch where I was going."

Mrs Harrison said: "When it happened I didn't know what to think or feel. It knocked us for six. It would have floored me but he has handled it so well.

"At first we were told his right eye would probably be fine. That was just false hope. He has been so mature. I can't believe how well he is doing. And I am so proud of him now more than ever."

Michael, who has just started a GNVQ IT course at Burnley College, has a personal assistant to help him in lessons and has been given a device which reads out the words on his computer screen.

The youngster has applied for a guide dog which he hopes will help him be able to get a job in computing when his course ends in two years time.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph medical expert Dr Tom Smith said: "This case is probably the only one in East Lancashire and possibly further a field too.

"Other people will be carrying it but few develop the symptoms which cause permanent blindness."

Brenda Midgley, secretary at Burnley and District Blind Society said: "This is not something we have heard of before. No-one has come to us before with this. But like any other visually impaired person he should make sure he is given the opportunities he deserves.

"There is not much blind people cannot do. We have one member who is now a barrister and he could be an inspiration to Michael."