A priest who needed surgery after a street attack in Crawley remembers little of the assault, police said today.

Officers are trying to piece together what happened to the 53-year-old, who was found lying in agony in a shop doorway.

His condition deteriorated after he was found by a passer-by and he had to have part of his bowel removed.

Officers are studying CCTV footage to discover how he came to be slumped outside the Mothercare store in Haslett Avenue, Crawley, at 3.15am on Easter Monday.

The probationary priest, who was due to be ordained in the summer, has left hospital and is recovering at his home in Northamptonshire.

He was attacked after heading out towards Branigans bar at Crawley Leisure Park and returning to the hotel.

The priest was staying in Crawley overnight in order to catch a flight to the USA from Gatwick the following day.