A FLINTSHIRE keyboard player and singer left with minimal sight after an operation to remove a tumour behind his eyes is back playing again.

Roger Hampson, from Buckley, was left with 40 per cent of his vision after the 18-hour operation at the Walton Hospital in Liverpool in 2014.

The 61-year-old professional entertainer, who played at holiday venues, pubs and on ferries, thought he'd never be able to perform again - leaving him in what he describes as a "very dark place".

"I was on my knees really," he said.

"I thought I'd lost the biggest passion in my life, as well as not being able to enjoy some of the other day-to-day things I used to.

"It left me in a very dark place."

However, a call from a care home - which he'd been playing since 1990 - asking him to perform turned Roger's life around.

"I never thought I'd play again because of my sight loss," he said.

"But when the care home got in touch I thought 'what the heck' and decided to give it a go.

"I had two choices; to give up or fight back - I chose the latter."

Roger's performance went down a treat and now he is back taking bookings for other local care homes.

He said: "Hopefully I can help inspire others who are struggling and in that dark place.

"Don't give up. The way I look at it is if I can do it than anyone can."

The Leader: Roger HampsonRoger Hampson