PROUD father George Pattie is praying he will see his daughter walk down the aisle before he goes blind, for the second time in his life.

The retired shipyard worker was overjoyed ten years ago when an operation gave him back his sight after 30 years.

But now his worst fears have been realised as his vision has started to fail.

He will walk daughter Louise, 25, down the aisle next July, but does not know whether he will see her.

He said: "I have had ten marvellous years of sight and taken in things that once I only dreamed about.

"It would be wonderful to see Louise on her wedding day before I lose my vision."

Mr Pattie, 60, of New York, North Tyneside, said: "When I was blind, I just used to accept it, but then I got my sight back and I could see everything.

"Having to go through losing it again makes it very hard."

He lost his sight after an operation in his 20s to remove cataracts went wrong.

He had an operation to put in implants, which led to him being able to see again.

AA customer advisor Louise is marrying retail manager Richard Nichol, 29, in Gateshead.

She said: "Whatever happens it will be a great day, and walking down the aisle on my dad's arm means everything to me, whether he has his sight or not."