Conservative MPs have suffered a number of blows over the past few months, but it has mainly been political rather than physical.

Not so it would appear with Shotley peninsula's South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge who is sporting a black eye.

Mystery surrounds the reason of how he got the shiner as he, his office and other South Suffolk Tories, are staying tight-lipped about it.

Close up look at James Cartlidge's black eye in parliament

One former Conservative Association member, who asked not to be identified, told Nub News: "Hopefully there is nothing nefarious about how James was given the black eye, and it was something completely accidental and innocent.

"However, his failure to make the reason public, or his office responding to queries, does cast doubt."

Given recent political events nationally Mr Cartlidge is among Suffolk MPs whose seats are in doubt in any forthcoming election, with the Conservative party taking hiding in the polls, with Labour, the Green Party and Libs Dems faring better.

Mr Cartlidge lost his place as a junior minister when Liz Truss became prime minister and currently speaks from the back benches.

He was asked how he got his black eye, and if he thought he may get a ministerial post now his former boss Jeremy Hunt is the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but he failed to respond.

*Do you know how Mr Cartlidge got his black eye, or were you responsible? Contact the editor: derek.davis