Gurkha war hero Tul Bahadur Pun was eyeing up a better life this week after finally undergoing a long-awaited cataract operation to partially regain his sight.

The 84-year-old Victoria Cross (VC) holder - who moved to Martindale Road, Hounslow, from Nepal in the summer - has been virtually blind for 12 years.

But just 30 minutes after undergoing the first of two operations to cure his ailment on Friday, he was removing the bandages over his right eye and marvelling at the borough for the first time.

"I've got a new lease of life! I'm so happy to be able to see my new home and Hounslow. It's a very nice place and I'm very happy to be here," Tul told the Chronicle.

His excitement was shared by others who have spent months caring for the frail veteran - one of just 12 living holders of the VC.

"Friday was the miracle day for Pun VC - the operation was extremely successful. On the way home he even began to read the bus numbers that were running in front of our car," said friend and former Gurkha Chandra Bahadur Gurung.

The Nepali hero will undergo a similar operation on his left eye next month, again at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington under the knife of renowned London surgeon Professor Philip Bloom.

Tul - who won the highest British military honour for single-handedly storming a Japanese platoon in World War Two - moved to the UK for treatment for a host of medical problems.

But the 84-year-old had to battle immigration officials for over a year to get permission to come to Britain, after they initially told him he did not have 'close enough ties' with this country.

He is now continuing his fight with the Government to get his youngest daughter allowed into the UK to care for him.

Hounslow Council recently passed a motion supporting Tul's demand to be reunited with her.

The distinguished 84-year-old met councillors and Mayor Andy Morgan-Watts this month at a veterans workshop organised by the Gurkha Army Ex-servicemen's Organisation (GAESO).