A SENIOR churchman arrested as part of an internet child pornography investigation has resigned - despite being told he will not face criminal charges.

The Venerable Dr John Marsh has quit his post as the Archdeacon of Blackburn and left the area.

The Church of England official - based at Blackburn Cathedral - was arrested earlier this year in connection with an inquiry into the viewing of internet child sex sites and the possibility that they had been illegally downloaded onto a computer in his possession.

But he has now been told that police will not be charging him with any offence. Dr Marsh was suspended by the Bishop of Blackburn in May following his arrest.

Detective Inspector Mark Gray, of Blackburn CID, said: "In May the Archdeacon of Blackburn, the Venerable Dr John Marsh was arrested by police following disclosure of pornographic images of children on a personal computer in his possession.

"Dr Marsh fully co-operated with police throughout an exhaustive investigation and as a result we have now cleared him of any offence. No further action will be taken against him in this matter."

The Bishop of Blackburn, the Right Reverand Alan Chesters, today welcomed the police decision on the investigation.

He said: "I am very pleased to learn that no charges are to be referred. However, it is with sadness that I have also received Dr Marsh's resignation as Archdeacon.

"I would like to record my thanks to John for his ministry. He and his family will be in our prayers in the coming days."

A spokesman for the diocese refused to reveal exactly when Dr Marsh had resigned, but said it would take effect from this coming Sunday.

He added: "Dr Marsh's resignation and the reason for it are a matter for him. He has moved out of the diocese, although appropriate pastoral links are being maintained."

There has been no sign of Dr Marsh at his house in the Beardwood area of Blackburn since his arrest.

Dr Marsh was also asked to leave his post as governor at St Wilfrid's C of E School, Shakespeare Street, Blackburn, following the allegations.

However, no one from the school was available for comment following the latest developments.

Dr Marsh was arrested after detectives from Blackburn CID said they had found evidence of visits to illegal internet child sex sites on a computer taken into a repair shop in Blackburn town centre.

The minister was questioned and released on police bail while detectives continued their investigations, which included several IT experts analysing the seized computer.

The 53-year-old archdeacon is married and has two children.

He was appointed to Blackburn Diocese, which covers the whole of East Lancashire, in June, 1996.

The music-loving churchman was previously vicar of Christ Church, in Ossett, near Wakefield.

As archdeacon it was his job to oversee the financial, property and legal aspects of the Church of England in the county south of the Ribble.

Dr Marsh was born in Bromley, Kent, and studied music at York University.

He was assistant organist at the Minster in the late sixties.

After leaving York with a philosophy doctorate in 1972 he trained at Oak Hill College, London, and was ordained in 1975.

In 1979 he became a curate in Sheffield, and moved to Ossett in 1985.