The mother of a baby born with only one eye has revealed how the family have had to endure cruel jibes about their little girl.

Laura Pritchett said 15-month-old daughter Daisy, who has a rare condition called microphthalmia, has been the victim of snide remarks about her appearance.

The 33-year-old, of Knight Avenue, Canterbury, said: "It was heartbreaking to be told what was wrong with her, but we have also had to put up with some nasty comments when we have been out.

"Once somebody said, 'Ahh, look at the baby – eurgh, how disgusting'. On another occasion one woman said to another, 'that's what happens when the mother takes drugs'."

Laura and her 30-year-old husband Darryl, who is a chef at the Pilgrims Hospice, said it shows how ignorant and insensitive some people can be.

But they also worry about the future for Daisy (pictured above) and the challenges she will face.

Laura said: "I worry that when she goes to school she might bullied because children can pick on others who are different. It is something she will have to deal with all her life. But she will have three big brothers to look out for her.

"Despite all she is going through, which can be very uncomfortable, she is a real character who is always smiling."

The couple have three other children, Harry, 13, James, seven, and two-year-old Freddie - and admit they had not planned for a fourth.

Daisy Pritchett, her mother Laura and cousin Faye Nolan

Laura said: "Of course we were excited when Daisy was born but straight away I knew something wasn't right.

"Initially the doctor was a bit dismissive, but then a consultant came and looked at her and just said something like, 'oh yes, she will be blind in one eye'. It was as blunt as that. We actually only received the news officially by letter."

Daisy's right eye did not develop properly so she has a false one, which will need replacing regularly as she grows up.

Laura said: "Apart from the obvious cosmetic purpose, the doctors say it is needed to maintain the shape of her eye socket or one sid​e of her face could sag.

"
that's what happens when the mother takes drugs..." – one of the ignorant jibes hurled at toddler daisy pritchett

"We have to take her quite regularly to the Moorfields specialist hospital in London because her good eye is not perfect and she has special glasses.

"But in some ways she is lucky because babies with this rare condition can often be born with no eyes or even eye sockets."

Daisy's 13-year-old cousin Faye Nolan staged a charity show at the Canterbury Academy yesterday to raise money and awareness for the Micro and Anophthalmic Children's Society, which supports the families of children born without eyes.

The Pritchetts said the help the charity has given them has been enormous, but Faye offer's to raise money came out of the blue.

Laura said: "It was all her idea and she has planned the whole thing and encouraged her friends to be part of it.

"She asked me first whether she could and I told her to go for it. It will raise awareness and money for a charity which is doing such great work with families like us."