Son in plea after father stabbed

A Shropshire man whose elderly father was stabbed and then left for dead at his home today appealed for information about the brutal attack.

Peter Ince, who lives near Much Wenlock, travelled to Walsall to collect his father Leslie Ince and take him to hospital for an angina operation.

But when he arrived at the pensioner's home he realised there was a major problem and alerted police.

Officers broke into the house in Park Hall, Walsall, on February 21 to find the 80-year-old man had been stabbed.

He remains in a critical condition in Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham.

"My father had been stabbed and left alone and desperately injured for what we believe may have been up to two days," Mr Ince said.

"This was a brutal attack on an elderly man and whoever did this is still at large.

"Our family is appealing for anyone who may have any information about the attack, or events leading up to it, to come forward and talk to police."

Peter Ince, 49, is parish council chairman for Hughley, Kenley and Church Preen. His sister Stephanie has travelled from Canada to join her brother in his bedside vigil.

He said his father was a regular visitor to Much Wenlock and was well-known by people in the area.

Mr Ince said he had been concerned when he been unable to contact his father and had driven to Walsall to take him to hospital.

After knocking on the door and asking his father's neighbours, who said they had not seen him for days, Mr Ince flagged down a passing police car.

Police have launched an attempted murder investigation. Anyone with information can call Walsall CID on 08451 135000.