The sight of adults and children going into a Yeadon pub at 10 o'clock on a Sunday morning may have caused a few raised eyebrows.

But, far from having a sneaky snifter, they were taking part in a church service at the Jug N Jar.

Born-again Christians Brendan and Jill Dunne, who run the pub in Queensway, have launched the evangelical services nine years after Jill had a vision that there would be a church on the estate.

And yesterday nearly 40 people turned up to take part in the first one.

Mr Dunne, a former car salesman, said the estate has problems like many others, including young people not having much to do.

"We have a huge captive audience - there must be about 4,000 people living on this estate who God wants to get to know and so do we and they are all welcome," he said.

Mr Dunne, who took over running the pub in May last year, said people from all religious backgrounds and non-believers were welcome.

Great-grandmother Dorothy Armstrong, who lives nearby, said she too had a vision - about 40 years ago - that there would be a church in Queensway.

"When this estate was first built there were shops and a club but we wanted a church," she said.

Asked whether she minded worshipping in a pub, 78-year-old Mrs Armstrong said: "You go where the Lord leads you. If God wants to start it off here, fair enough."

The Rev Graham Banks, who was the minister at Lister Hill Baptist Church, Horsforth, which Brendan and Jill used to attend, spoke at yesterday's service.

He said: "Pubs are natural focal points for the community. Churches used to be, but they have lost ground in that respect.

"How many people go past a church and never think about going in? Now they can come in here and have a pint and worship."

Other initiatives being launched at the Jug N Jar include a youth club, mums and tots group and one for elderly people. Wedding, funeral and christening services could come next.

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