INGLETON and Chapel-le-Dale have a new vicar.

The Rev Charles Ellis will be inducted into the parish of St Mary's, Ingleton, and St Leonard's, Chapel-le-Dale on April 15.

Mr Ellis, who is 53, is currently team rector of Rossendale Middle Valley in Lancashire where he has been since 1999. He is also Area Dean of Rossendale.

Originally a landscape designer for local authorities, Mr Ellis was ordained at the age of 31.

He said: "I was attracted to the parish of Ingleton and Chapel-le-Dale because there seems to be a lot of life there.

"There are exciting things going on and also things to develop. It's also a parish that is very keen on reaching out to other people.

"However, I'm not going with preconceived ideas. My first priority will be to listen and learn and get to know people - which I'm very much looking forward to," said Mr Ellis.

All Mr Ellis's other posts have been in the Manchester diocese including eight years as team rector of Radcliffe.

Mr Ellis is married to Susan, who is a school health support worker, and they have four grown up sons.

He said: "Two are ecologists, one is a cosmologist and the other is a mathematician. We have some very interesting discussions!"

Mr Ellis's induction will take place on 15 April at St Mary's, Ingleton.