THE new Bishop of Burnley, Canon John Goodard, made his first visit to the Town Hall to meet the Mayor, Councillor Rafique Malik.

Canon Goodard and his wife Vivienne were shown the civic regalia and shown around the council chamber.

Canon Goddard, 52, a West Country vicar's son, recently succeeded the Rt Rev Martyn Jarrett, who has been appointed Bishop of Beverley in the York Diocese.

Canon Goddard taught in Ghana with the church for a year. He worked from 1970 to 1988 in Middlesbrough, where he became rural dean and taught theology and Christian doctrine, as vice- principal of Edinburgh Theological College, before moving to Ribbleton in 1992 and now to Burnley.