AN African boy partially blinded by a snake is having plastic surgery thanks to a Worcester nurse and readers of your Worcester News.

Twelve-year-old Dowda Sonka, from the Gambia, was left seriously disfigured when a cobra spat in his face. He was spotted by Rosemary Henman, of Hallow, near Worcester, when she was on holiday in the country last year.

As a trained nurse she automatically wanted to help the boy and has worked tirelessly to raise money for him to have plastic surgery. With the help of donations from readers of your Worcester News, Dowda and is mother are now in Ghana and the boy will have surgery on Thursday.

Mrs Henman said: "It has been great with the Worcester News's help. I have spoken to the surgeons and they will do skin grafts around his eyes because he cannot shut his eyes - he cannot blink.

"The skin grafts will mean he will be able to protect his eyes and sleep with his eyes shut.

"He will also have surgery around his mouth to release the tension in his face.

"Doctors are also assessing his eyes to see what they can do, they have said it is going to be a rough road."

It was initially thought Dowda was completely blind in his right eye, but tests have shown he has some sight in the eye and is partially sighted in the left. Doctors are carrying out further assessments to see what they can do to improve his eyesight in both eyes.

Mrs Henman raised more than £3,000 to pay for flights for Dowda and his mother, the surgery and accommodation in Ghana's capital Accra. "It has been hard work but worth every minute," she said.

"I have had a lot of people who have said they have wanted to support the cause because they knew that whatever they gave to me was going to the child."

Dowda and his mother arrived in Accra on Tuesday, February 19. The surgery is being carried out by a Scottish plastic surgeon and Ghanaian doctor. It is due to take place on Thursday and it is expected Dowda will stay in the capital for two weeks before flying home.