DON'T mention the Vicar of Dibley to Jo White!

Her friends, family and colleagues have been giving her an affectionate ribbing ever since she decided to quit her job to become a curate.

But the similarities between Jo's new life in the picturesque Peak District and the BBC sitcom starring Dawn French end there. Her new role promises to be every bit as hectic as her current job in the education department at Blackburn with Darwen Council.

She said: "They keep calling me the Vicar of Dibley but it's going to be very challenging. I've never really had a nine to five job, but I've always had a clear distinction between work and my spare time.

"Now I'll be working across three church buildings, two community centres and three primary schools, taking part in daily services and evening events such as Bible study groups as well as being available to parishioners and trying to bring more people to the church."

Later this month, Jo, 51, who was the Children's Fund manager, will be ordained at Derby Cathedral before taking up her new role in the market town of Ashbourne.

And although Ashbourne only has a population of 10,000, it is a popular tourist area, especially with walkers.

Swapping the office environment for the pulpit came as no surprise to those close to Jo, who originally trained as a special-needs teacher.

She has been involved closely with the Church for most of her life, even writing a book on pilgrimage. She's also following a family tradition, as her great-grandfather was a Jewish Rabbi in Belgium.

She said: "My family and friends weren't at all surprised when I decided back in 1998 that I wanted to be ordained - they just wondered why it had taken me so long to realise that was the way to go."

She will be moving to Derbyshire from Walsden, near Todmorden, with her husband Hilton. The couple, who have two grown-up children, celebrated their silver wedding anniversary last year and will swap their 300-year-old country cottage for a modern home on a housing estate.

Her first year after ordination will enable her to carry out baptisms and funerals, but she will not be allowed to take weddings or celebrate Communion until her ordination as a priest, which will take place next year.

It has taken her three years to train for the ministry and study for a masters degree in theology.