A FORMER East Lancashire Catholic priest has stunned his congregation by quitting his Manchester church at Sunday Mass, telling them: “I’ve got a four-year-old son”.

Parishioners were devastated after Father Peter McDonough made the announcement at a sign language mass for the deaf at St Patrick’s Church, Collyhurst.

Fr McDonough, 54, himself profoundly deaf, has spent the last 27 years serving the deaf Catholic community in Manchester and Salford.

He spent time at St. Mary’s Church, Oswaldtwistle, and St. Mary’s Church, Burnley, while training.

Hyndburn Council Leader Peter Britcliffe said: "I remember him as he was quite well-known in Oswaldtwistle in the ’80s.

"He was very committed from what I hear and I know that many parishioners in the area will remember him fondly.”