MEMBERS of the public have been urged not to take the law into their own hands after a man suffered a brutal attack after being mistaken for a serial flasher.

The Northumbria Police appeal comes after a 50-year-old man was assaulted in a back lane of Manners Gardens, in Seaton Deleval, near Whitley Bay, at 10pm on Saturday.

He was left with a numerous serious injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment to serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

Earlier this month, Northumbria Police released an image of a man they wanted to speak to about a string of indecent exposures in the Seaton Deleval area.

Police confirmed the man was targeted as a "result of mis-identification" and are continuing to investigate the assault.

Inspector Garry Neill said: "This man was an innocent member of the public and for him to be targeted in this way is completely unacceptable."

A 49-year-old has been arrested over the assault and has been released from custody pending further police enquiries.