MONTHS of detective work have ended in a reunion between a blind man and a statue he crafted before he lost his sight.

Gordon Williams, of Margaret Philipson Court, Aldwark, York, and the bronze sculpture of a boy were reunited at York company 210 Communications, where it sits in the reception.

Gordon was asked to craft the boy's features in 1989 by Wetherby-based sculptor Mike Benn, who was making it for an Italian cartoon producer.

Gordon lost his sight following an operation five years later.

"He lost so much when he lost his sight, and I wanted to give him something back," said his carer Roberta Belcher, who took three months to trace the statue.

"All he talks about is this sculpture, but he hadn't known where it was since it was done.

"It was very emotional to reunite him with it. It really made his day, and even my eyes watered."

Roberta eventually found the statue after a chance conversation with somebody who had worked at 210 Communications, at the Thorpe Arch industrial estate.

Updated: 11:16 Wednesday, February 20, 2002