GRATEFUL Les Howard is to undergo treatment to save his sight today thanks to a deal arranged by The Press.

Last week, we told how Mr Howard, 76, who has been diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration in his right eye, was told by NHS chiefs he would have to lose sight in one eye and develop a vision-threatening condition in the other before he could be given the injections he needed.

But today Mr Howard, of Acomb, is to undergo free treatment at a private hospital - which would normally cost between £700 and £1,000 per injection - after Nuffield Hospital stepped forward to offer him the treatment he had been denied on the NHS.

Speaking ahead of his treatment, Mr Howard told The Press: "I'm feeling great. They've even been generous enough to send a taxi for me to take me to the hospital.

"I still feel over the moon. I've been using drops in my eye and trying to get a few good nights' sleep and relax before I go to hospital."

He said he was looking forward to experiencing an improvement in his sight.

Mr Howard was being treated today at the Nuffield Harrogate Hospital by one of his consultants, Gavin Walters.

He will receive up to eight injections of Lucentis in his eye - an antiVEGF drug which stops the advance of his condition.

The costs of the treatment, including the drugs, will be met by Nuffield after The Press contacted Mr Howard on their behalf and arranged the deal.

He issued a big "thank you" to everyone who had stepped in to help since they heard his plight.

"The people of York have really shocked me with their generosity and compassion," he said. "They have been absolutely brilliant - the older generation especially."

But he said although he was grateful that he would be receiving the treatment he needs, he is still concerned for the plight of others who were being denied treatment Les, one of the first guards to work at Full Sutton prison when it opened in 1983 and a former police officer, was denied drugs by North Yorkshire and York PCT that would have saved his sight. He was told he could only have them if he went blind in one eye. He said: "I'm coming out on top but I feel sorry for all those other patients who are in my situation."

The PCT was one of the first in the country to fund the treatment in the second eye of patients with the disorder.

It says 45 requests have been received for the Lucentis drug since it was granted its European licence on January 23. It has approved 38 of the cases and turned down seven.