A VICAR has blasted parents who "cannot be bothered" for using his church as a Sunday child-minding service.

The Rev Brian Stevenson launched the attack in his parish newsletter which advertised the family worship and praise day planned for St Silas Church on November 7.

He said: "While this is a popular service, it appears that some parents are not playing their part in helping members of the uniformed organisations to be on parade.

"It is also noticeable that some parents cannot be bothered to attend church themselves and seem to regard the church as a nursery to which they can send their children to be cared for by other people.

"Some even go as far as to bring their children to the church door, while they return home. Not a very good example is it?

"I find it very sad to realise that the Christian faith and worship means nothing to such parents."

Mr Stevenson hit the headlines last year when he branded soccer bosses such as Jack Walker "immoral" for what he saw as buying status for their clubs at the cost of football fans and the national game.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.