A MAN today spoke of how he planned to turn his life around as he recovered from serious stab wounds.

Darren Leecy, 33, sustained the injuries in an incident in the kitchen of his home in Standen Road, Clitheroe, in the early hours of January 19.

He suffered a punctured lung, stab wounds near to his heart and cuts to the head and today said: "I am lucky to be alive."

Now Darren, who said he had fallen into a lifestyle of drugs for several years, said he would begin a course of rehabilitation to coincide with his birthday on Wednesday.

Parents Tony, 63, and Ann, 55, were left deeply distressed by the incident which happened in their home, yards from where they were dozing.

It came three years after Darren's older brother Anthony, 27, was found dead near a town centre brook.

Darren is now making a "remarkable" recovery after a week in the high dependency unit at Blackburn Royal Infirmary and said he has signed up for a year-long drug rehabilitation programme starting this week.

"Life goes on and you have to keep on going. But making a recovery from this has made me see that life is precious," he said.

Darren's parents have stood by him.

He added: "It is my parents I feel sorry for. They do not need it at their time of life and I see now how much stress it has caused them. It has been a big shock for the family but I am going to get back on my feet.

"I am going to try and fight my drug problem. When you come back from the dead it makes it all more worthwhile. People have been really supportive."

And Darren also has hopes of rekindling ties with his three-year-old daughter Shevana.

But he is still haunted by the memory of the incident and will be physically scarred for life.

"Every time I cook something now I can't help looking over my shoulder and I will be scarred for life."

Darren's brother's body was discovered in Mearley Brook, close to Clitheroe town centre on April 1 1999. A local man was charged with his murder but was acquitted by a Crown Court jury after he said he was not the last man to see Anthony alive.

A 22-year-old man has appeared in court charged with attempted murder in connection with an alleged attack on Darren.