Ananova:

A 70-year-old priest has been punched in the face on his doorstep in an unprovoked attack.

Catholic priest, the Rev Francis Robson, suffered minor injuries in the attack at his home in Bellingham, Northumberland, a Northumbria Police spokesman said.

Father Robson, who lives next to the town's St Oswald's Church, did not need hospital treatment but is said to be "extremely shocked" by the incident.

A police spokesman said that a man aged between 18 and 22 knocked on Father Robson's door at 7.10pm last night, before punching him and running away.

He added there was no obvious reason for the attack.