A DISABLED pensioner received hospital treatment after being beaten over the head.

The unprovoked attack - described as "cowardly'' by police - came as the 79-year-old locked the front gate of his home in Kelso Court, Berwick Hills, Middlesbrough, on Friday night.

Cleveland Police say the elderly man was approached by someone who struck him across the back of his head with an implement, causing him to fall to the ground.

A police spokeswoman said: "It appears that a barking dog may have scared the attacker off, and an ambulance took the gentleman to James Cook University Hospital to be checked over. He was discharged a few hours later.'' The man responsible is white, in his late teens, about 5ft 7ins, well built, with very short hair.

He wore a white tee-shirt with a collar and a distinctive number or letter on the front and back - possibly a letter "J" or a number "1". He was also wearing blue tracksuit bottoms with a thick white stripe running down the sides of the legs and white trainers.

PC James Emery of Middlesbrough 's Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "While this is a rare crime, it was a particularly cowardly attack on an elderly gentleman who was doing nothing more than going about his everyday business at his own home.'' Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact me on 01642- 302900 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.