THE incoming vicar of Oswaldtwistle has thanked people in the area after they helped him raise more than £700 for charity.

Rev Martin Joss is taking over as vicar for the parish of Oswaldtwistle on Friday, May 5.

When it was announced last month that he would taking up the role it was revealed he would be completing a ‘mean bean challenge’.

For five days he ate nothing but porridge, rice and beans to raise money for the Christian charity Tearfund. In total he raised £735.

He said: “Everybody from Oswaldtwistle has been so warm to me already, what’s not to like, it’s been a fantastic welcome.

"I’ve had all these donations from people I’ve never met.”