It may have been a long wait – but the arrival of a new Anglican vicar is being celebrated in Loddon.

The Rev William Stewart, pictured, has taken the place of Nigel Evans, who left in September last year. He hails from Northern Ireland and worked in the Republic of Ireland for 30 years.

He said: 'The job came through from a friend of ours and it would have been nice to have stayed in the same area we came from, but we felt the excitement of a new challenge.'

Mr Stewart was inducted, installed and licensed in the Holy Trinity Church, Loddon, on June 16 by the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Graham James.

He has been joined in the Chet Valley benefice by his wife Ruth and their youngest daughter Emily. The couple have three other children, Anna, Christopher and Elizabeth, all working in London.

He added: 'I am looking forward to being part of a community. That's an aspect of life that's endangered these days.

'I very much like to engage whenever there are good things happening in the area and I would like us, as a church, to take part. It's an exciting time for me now and the Chet Valley churches will be on the map in the next few months.'

His first Sunday service at Loddon was on June 19 – a joint service of Holy Communion for all the people in the Chet Valley group of villages.