A HARMLESS 87-year-old vagrant was beaten within an inch of his life by young thugs as he slept in a shop doorway.

Bob Glenholmes faced the world yesterday after being battered black and blue in the attack.

He was huddled in a Newcastle doorway sleeping when he was set upon for no reason.

As police hunted the gang responsible for the attack, Detective Inspector Steve Wouldhave, said: "This man was doing no harm to anyone.

"He had settled down for the night under the canopy of a building and was dozing at the time he was subjected to a sustained attack.

"He was repeatedly kicked and punched and left in a distressed state."

Mr Glenholmes is the latest elderly victim to be attacked in a series of assaults on Tyneside. He is recovering in Newcastle General hospital following the beating in the city's Forth Lane, a week ago.

He was left bleeding with a double-fracture to the jaw, a broken nose and smashed eye socket.

The ferocity of the attack shocked detectives who have stepped up their hunt for the assailants.

With no known family or friends who can be traced, Mr Glenholmes is being cared for by the nurses at the hospital.

He has had no visitors since he was brought in semi-conscious in the early hours of last Friday.

He was barely able to tell police his name, has had hour-long surgery to repair his jaw, but he is still on medication for the pain.

Det Insp Wouldhave, said: "We need anyone who saw his attackers in the area outside the Jazz Cafe around 3am to get in touch with the police.

"We have so far had a poor response to an appeal for witnesses. Three people who were arrested have been bailed pending further inquiries."