A VICAR has retired from his Constablelee parish after 21 years leading the congregation.

The Rev Peter Heywood, 55, has been forced to retire from St Paul's Church on of health grounds.

St Paul's was his first church after two curacies in Higher Blakeley and Denton and he said: "If my health had not stopped me I would be staying there. I have been completely happy and I have always felt there was more to do."

Mr Heywood is married to Linda, a teacher, and they have a son David and daughter Jane, both teachers, and David's wife is also -- a teacher!

Mr Heywood is not looking to go into teaching in his retirement, but he will be spending time with his nose in books because he is finishing off his home study health degree.

He said: "They held a special celebration and retirement service at the church and various church members said my ministry had been an encouragement to them.

"I was presented with a cheque for £900 which I am hopefully going to use to buy some furniture for my new conservatory so I will be able to relax.

"After the service the church provided a wonderful buffet meal and people came from far and wide and to my surprise I was sent greetings from an orphanage in Lithuania that the church has links with and people from Belorussia where we support a number of isolated Christian communities.

"It has been difficult to come to terms with not being at the church."