Former detective Nigel Cook has spoken of the pioneering eye surgery that means he can now see his two children and wife smile again.

Mr Cook, of Dark Lane, Steeple Ashton, has macular degeneration in both of his eyes, a condition which obscures his vision with a dark fog, leaving him effectively blind.

It meant he couldn’t even see his wife Amanda’s face or those of his children – Emmi, seven, and Charlie, nine.

The 50-year-old, forced to give up his career and his driving licence, said: “I have had two tiny plastic lenses placed in each eye and they work like a telescope, magnifying everything I see and shrinking the blind spot I have in each eye.

“I was so emotional when I had the first operation in November 2008 and I had an instant result. It was just wonderful to be able to see my wife’s face and the expressions of joy on my seven and nine-year-old’s faces.”

He was first diagnosed with the condition 10 years ago in his right eye and then five years later his left eye started to deteriorate, which meant he had to give up his career as a detective in the child protection unit for Avon and Somerset Police.

He is now looking to get a job and enjoying everyday tasks people take for granted, like walking his dogs on his own and watching his daughter in a school play.

The procedure, which is not a cure, has been pioneered by surgeon Andrew Luff at the Optegra Eye Hospital in Bristol, who carried out Mr Cook’s operation.