THE VICTIM of a late-night assault on Weymouth seafront is having to undergo a second major eye operation in desperate attempts to save his sight.

The mother of the 25-year-old victim, who wants to remain anonymous, is renewing her appeal for anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward.

The assault took place on Tuesday, August 16- the first night of Weymouth Carnival- between the former Weymouth Bars and Marks & Spencer. It happened sometime between 11pm and 1am.

Dorset Police they said the victim was walking along the Esplanade when he accidentally bumped into another man. He apologised and started walking toward Marks & Spencer when he was hit in the face with an unknown blunt item.

The force of the attack detached the 25-year-olds' retina, caused a hole in the back of his eye and a complete loss of sight in that eye.

His mother said: "I want whoever was responsible to be caught. My son said he has never felt pain like that before.

"He had his first operation in August to fix his retina. He still has the whole in the back of his eye which isn't healing whatsoever. So he has to go in for another operation which is at the end of September.

"He is really dreading it and so am I. He doesn't like to talk about it. The surgeon said the operation has a 90 per cent success rate. But I am dreading it in case he doesn't regain his sight.

"Someone must have seen something, anything that will help us catch who did this."

His mother explained how her son had been out with a couple of friends on the night of the attack and had become separated from them. It was when he was walking home that he was hit with a blunt force.

Cllr Francis Drake, borough council spokesman for community safety, described it as a "horrible" incident and encouraged witnesses to come forward.

A spokesman for Dorset Police confirmed that no arrests have yet been made and an investigation is still ongoing.

Detective Constable James Batty, of Weymouth CID, said: "I would appeal to anyone who may have seen the incident or has any further information that may assist with my investigation to please contact me."

Witnesses or anyone with any information is urged to contact Dorset Police on 101 quoting occurrence number 55160124257. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.