LITTLE Jacob Bleasdale may look different to other two-year-old boys, but his parents want to stamp out any negative attitudes towards him - before he is old enough to be affected by people's ignorant stares.

The toddler was born with extensive port wine stain birthmarks covering most of his face, scalp, chest and legs.

His parents, Christine and Stephen Bleasdale, of Longworth Road, Horwich, were devastated when Jacob - their second son - was born with the birthmarks.

But they say it has not only changed their lives, but their attitudes to life.

Jacob, who attends Croft House Nursery, travels to London's Great Ormond Street Hospital for specialist laser treatment every six months.

Each operation involves covering his face with more than 500 dots of laser surgery.

The surgery is not guaranteed to remove the birthmark, but should lessen the redness over time and has already reduced it significantly.

Port wine stain, also known as a venous malformation, is caused by an abnormality of blood vessels in the skin and occurs in about three in every 1,000 babies born.

Jacob's parents have researched the condition and are now campaigning to increase awareness.

Christine said: "Jacob is a very lively, cheeky boy with a will of iron and we will do everything we can to make sure that doesn't change.

"At the moment, he is too young to realise that he is different to other children, but we worry that when he gets old enough he will notice people's stares and comments.

"People will look at Jacob because he is different. We accept that, but what we would say to them is: 'Don't just stop and stare, smile at him instead'.

"We would rather people approached us with sensible questions than mumble about him behind our backs in the supermarket queue."

Jacob also has the rare health conditions associated with port wine stains birthmarks, collectively known as Sturge Weber Syndrome, which can cause brain and eye abnormalities including glaucoma, epilepsy and learning difficulties.

Jacob suffers from glaucoma in his left eye and has begun to have seizures, which are under investigation.

Christine said: "There are many misconceptions about port wine stains.

"Most people think that they will fade naturally over time, but they are in fact likely to darken into adulthood.

"Many children also develop epilepsy and other health complications."

Jacob and his family - mum, dad, eight-year-old brother Tom and one-year-old sister Eve - were one of 10 families chosen to represent Great Ormond Street on a holiday to Majorca earlier this month.

The Bleasdales spent a week in Palma Nova, where they attended the 21st anniversary of Pirates - a leading dinner show on the island - who held a charity night in aid of the hospital.

"We have always treated Jacob the same as every other child and hope that will continue in all areas of his life.

"Jacob's skin is also highly sensitive to sunlight, which means that between April and October he has to wear a hat and high factor suncream at all times.People also don't realise that there is more to it than just the visual impact.