POLICE are appealing for help after a pensioner had a camera pushed into his face as he took photos of iconic steam locomotives on display in County Durham.

Police say the 70-year-old man, from Carlisle, was assaulted as he tried to take a photograph at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum in Shildon during the Great Goodbye exhibition which featured the Mallard and her five remaining sisters.

The man asked a woman, thought to be in her 40s, to move so he that could take the picture and she pushed the man’s camera into his face.

The incident took place at about 10am on Sunday (February 23) and the victim suffered a minor injury above his top lip.

His attacker had shoulder-length, blonde hair and was wearing a cream coloured waist length jacket.

Detective Constable Natalie Winter said: “An initial search of the area was made, but no arrest has so far been made.

"Obviously, there were huge numbers of people at the event and if anyone saw this incident we would ask them to contact us.”

Anyone with information should contact Shildon police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.