A FORMER Blackburn church minister seriously injured after allegedly being attacked by his son could return to work within the month church bosses said today.

Rev Kenneth Dagger is still recovering from the incident at the vicarage of Southdene, Kirkby, where he lived, at the end of August.

Mr Dagger he received injuries to his ear, neck, chest and thigh and was taken to University Hospital, Aintree, before being released the day after afternoon.

His son Simeon Dagger, 24, appeared before at St Helen's Magistrates on September 4 where he was charged with attempted murder. He is due to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on October 2. In the meantime he has been told to live with his uncle in Lathom, near Ormskirk, and not contact his parents.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Liverpool, said: "Reverend Dagger is currently still recovering from the incident and it is hoped he will be back at work shortly." She added the Rev thanked people for their concerns.

The Rev Dagger was a former curate at St James' Church, in St James Road Road, off Shear Brow, Blackburn, before moving as curate to St Bartholomew's, in Church Street, Colne, in 1979.

Two years later Mr Dagger, who trained for ordination at the Bernard Gilpin Society, in Durham, in 1972, became the rector of All Saints, Hesketh-with-Brinscall, near Preston, where he stayed until 1985. After four years working with the appeals organisation for the Children's Society charity he moved to the Diocese of Liverpool. Last November he was installed as Vicar at St Martin's, in a ceremony which included the Bishop of Warrington, the Rt Rev David Jennings, the Archdeacon of Liverpool, the Venerable Bob Metcalf and the Rector of Kirkby, the Rev Anthony Hawley.

At the time of the incident well wishers from East Lancashire spoke of their shock. A spokesman for the Blackburn Diocese said prayers were said for him and his family.