A priest is in a serious condition in hospital after being attacked in the street in Crawley.

The 53-year-old priest from Northamptonshire was found lying unconscious in the doorway of the Mothercare shop in Haslett Avenue.

He was taken to Crawley Hospital but his condition has deteriorated and he has undergone emergency surgery. Details of the attack, which happened last week, have only just emerged.

The priest, who has not been named, was staying at The George Hotel in the High Street on Easter Sunday before flying to the USA from Gatwick the next day.

At some time between 11pm and 11.30pm he left the hotel and walked into Crawley town centre.

He headed towards Brannigans bar, but when he realised it was a nightclub and not a pub he decided to return to his hotel.

A police spokesman said: "The priest can remember little of what happened but he knows he was viciously attacked on the way back to The George, leaving him on the floor in agony.

"He went in and out of consciousness and it is thought he must have crawled into the Mothercare doorway."

He was seen by a member of the public who called an ambulance.

The spokesman said the priest's condition meant police were unable to speak to him. They are asking members of the public for help filling in the missing four hours between his leaving the hotel and being found.

They particularly want to speak to the person who called an ambulance.

The priest is 5ft 10in tall and of medium build with short grey hair. He was wearing a black coat with a grey collar, black trousers and shoes. He was not wearing a collar.

He was attacked at 3.15am on Bank Holiday Monday. Anyone with information can contact Detective Constable Andy Richardson on 0845 6070999.