A MAN has been charged with murder after a grandfather was attacked while outside a church waiting to pray.

Leslie David Liddle, 41, was assaulted outside Bensham Gospel Hall, in Bensham Road, Gateshead, at about 6.30pm on Wednesday.

Mr Liddle had become a devout Christian five months previously and was waiting for a prayer and Bible study meeting to begin.

The father-of-four and grandfather, who was from Gateshead, suffered serious head injuries. He was able to stumble into the church, but died in hospital on Friday night.

Northumbria Police launched a murder investigation and quickly arrested three men.

Tyrone Urwin, 20, of Saint Cuthbert’s Road, Gateshead, has been charged with murder and remanded in custody to appear before Gateshead Magistrates’ Court today.

Two other men, both aged 22, have been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Detectives are continuing to appeal for witnesses to come forward and are particularly keen to speak to three people who were in the area at the time of the attack.

One was a woman carrying a Next carrier bag, another was a man wearing a grey and white hooded top and the third was a man wearing a baseball cap.

Detective Chief Inspector Ged Noble said: “I must stress that these people are being treated as potential witnesses and may have very important information as to what happened.

“I’d urge them to get in touch with police as soon as possible.”

Police patrols in the area have been stepped up to reassure residents.

Jim McMaster, an elder at Bensham Gospel Hall, chaplain at Durham Prison and a friend of Mr Liddle, appealed for witnesses to come forward.

He said Mr Liddle had been starting to turn his life around and his family was heartbroken at his death.

“He was in the park area near us when the attack took place. He came into the church and my wife was there at first and then I came in.

“He was obviously badly injured.

We took immediate action to help him,” Mr McMaster said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Northumbria Police on 03456-043-043 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111