An outspoken Catholic priest has launched an surprising attack on poor people, calling them 'lying, drug-abusing illegitimates'.

Father Ray Blake wrote a enraged blog entry denouncing the homeless, in an online post titled, 'The Trouble With The Poor'.

He describes the poor as being 'lying and messy' people sent by God to test his belief.

Father Blake goes on to claim that one homeless man who regularly turned up at his church pleading for money was 'an irritating little bastard'.

Blake accused the beggar of interrupting his service by passing his cap around his congregation looking for cash.

The controversial Catholic cleric said: 'The trouble with the poor is that they are messy.

'There is a secluded area between the church and our hall, a passage, occasionally we find someone has got a few cardboard boxes together and has slept there, and if it has been raining leaves a sodden blanket, cardboard there to be cleaned up.

'Often it also smells of urine and there is often excrement there and sometimes a used needle or two.'

Father Blake describes how the destitute 'ring the door bell at every hour of the day and night' and 'tell lies' to get cash.

And he singles out one homeless man who interrupts his services by launching his own collection.

He writes: 'During the silence of the Canon the man will pray aloud: 'Jesus, I want you to bless Father Ray and God, can you persuade the good people here to give to the poor - I am poor'.

'Unchecked he will take his cap off and have a collection. It makes a mess of our prayers - it stops some coming to Mass here.'

Complaining about other homeless people, he added: 'They tell you their Gran is dying and they need the train fare.'