A pensioner fought off two thieves who battered him with a branch as they tried to steal lead from his church.

Church treasurer Peter Grondona, 73, spotted two hooded youths on the roof of St Nicholas Church in Tackley, in the latest in a spate of lead and metal thefts across the county.

Mr Grondona challenged the pair, who then came down and struck him twice on his head and neck with a metre-long branch, knocking him to the ground.

After the attack the would-be thieves fled empty-handed to a waiting car.

Last night, Mr Grondona was recovering at home and playing down suggestions he was a hero.

He said: "There was nothing I could do, I was completely isolated. I've never been in a situation where I've not been able to control events.

"I was very, very shaken. This was gratuitous violence. It startles me that they, particularly the taller one, were totally vicious.

"I thought: This is as bad as it gets, how am I going to get away'."

Mr Grondona was alerted after hearing a noise from the church roof at about 3pm on Saturday.

The youths pulled the hoods over their heads to hide their features.

He said they came towards him swearing and shouting, as one of them picked up the branch.

The youth swung it at the pensioner hitting the back of his neck and knocking him to the ground before striking him a second time on the top of the head.

They demanded Mr Grondona's church keys but he refused, managing to stand up and run away to call the police.

He added: "What surprises me is that they were not stealing under the cover of darkness. You wouldn't expect someone to try and steal from a church on a Saturday afternoon."

It is believed the thieves left in a white Volkswagen Golf or Polo.

An ambulance took Mr Grondona to hospital with bruising to the back of his head, but he was discharged.

Pc Lee Forrest said: "This type of attack would have been nasty whatever the circumstances, but that it was on an elderly man outside a church makes this particularly distasteful.

"Nationally we are seeing an increase in metal thefts and it is important for local residents to keep their eye on buildings in their neighbourhood - look out for any unexpected building-type work going on.

"But I would recommend that if you do see something suspicious, please don't try and tackle them yourself - call the police immediately."

The first youth, who was armed with the branch, is in his late teens, 5ft 10ins and medium build. He was wearing a dark blue beanie hat, a dark blue anorak and dark coloured tracksuit bottoms.

The second youth, also in his late teens, is 5ft 7ins, chubby and was wearing a blue anorak and tracksuit bottoms.

The church has coated its roof with SmartWater, a non-toxic liquid with a unique code that permanently stains a thief's hands.

Anyone who saw these youths in a white car in Tackley area on Saturday should call police on 08458 505505 or speak anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.