A DAD from York has undergone urgent treatment for a brain tumour the size of a KitKat after abnormalities were spotted during an eye test.

Andy Robson, 57, who lives in Heworth Without, said he knew something wasn’t right after he experienced difficulties while driving.

He said: “With her Granddad’s help, we had recently bought our daughter, Ellie, a Mini, which I took her out for a spin in. When I was driving around the area, she was really concerned that I was driving it too close to the kerb.

“I didn’t think much about it at the time, but doing my rounds a few days later, I went around Hopgrove roundabout. Although I’ve driven around it thousands of times before, I became disoriented and couldn’t work out where to turn off.

“I had a lad in the van with me at the time, because I work as a plumbing and heating engineer, who said I very nearly crashed into a parked car. I knew there was something wrong, so my wife, Julie, booked me an appointment that afternoon at Specsavers Vangarde.”

Ellie Williams - the store’s optometrist - saw Andy on January 6.

Andy said: “I had suffered a ministroke in the past - a TIA - which Ellie thought might have been the culprit. Quite rightly, she told me to stop driving, before immediately referring me to York Hospital, as worrying abnormalities showed up in the test.”

Andy went to York Hospital for further tests the next day, where he was quickly rushed in for a scan. It was discovered he had a brain tumour the size of a KitKat on top of his optic nerve.

He was transferred to Hull for a brain operation which removed 90% of the tumour, and he left hospital two days after surgery.

He said: “It came as a real shock, but the surgeons were brilliant, and I’m determined to fight the remaining 10% of the tumour through radio and chemotherapy. As a true Yorkshire-man, I’m certainly guilty of sometimes embodying our stubborn stereotype, as I was quite relaxed about sticking to appointment tests.

“I am going to fight as long as I can, but as it’s been spotted early, I’ve been able to able to get treatment faster which has given me the best possible chances of a good outcome. It just goes to show how important it is not to see appointments as a burden and to get yourself tested.”

Ellie said: “I am delighted to hear Mr Robson is receiving the treatment that he needs. When he presented for his eye test I was very concerned by his symptoms.

“A thorough check over, including a test of his peripheral vision, revealed some concerning results. I was keen to get him seen at the hospital as soon as possible for investigation. I’m thrilled that Mr Robson felt he could still come into store for an eye test during lockdown.”