Orphan Mark Lombe, who lost both his parents to Aids, came over from Zambia to visit the Artificial Eye Service and have his false eye adjusted.

He had already had the prosthetic fitted at the Bispham-based service, in 2005, after being born with a condition known as microphthalmia – or a "shrunken" eye.

The 11-year-old had to return to the National Artificial Eye Service, run by Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Trust, to have some work done to the artificial eye and was shown around by staff – who gave up their free time to treat him.

Helen Loddington, manager of the service, which produces artificial eyes for the whole of the country, said: "We first got involved through a consultant from Brighton who visited Zambia and carried out the surgery on Mark. He contacted us to ask us to create an eye for the socket.

Lovely

"Mark first came to us in 2005 and we created him an eye, then he returned last week to have some alterations made.

"According to the lady who runs the home where he lives, there is no other service they can use like this over there.

"Mark is a lovely young lad. The staff at the children's home say it has made a big difference to him, having this eye.

"He used to be quiet and shy, but they told us he has got a lot more confident since he had the artificial eye fitted.

"The staff all really like it when Mark visits. They were happy to give up their free time and they like being able to help him.

"He was shown all around the service and shown how the eyes are made.

"He seemed to really enjoy meeting everyone and had a big hug for all the staff."

Mark's condition meant that one of his eyes was very small and he was unable to see through it. Replacing it with an artificial eye means his appearance is more "normal."