SHOPPERS at an Accrington supermarket have been offered relief from the stresses of food aisles -- by an in-store chaplain.

Philip Norris has become Asda Accrington's first chaplain, and is set to offer comforting words to whoever needs him.

And the move has been so popular that two more local vicars have been drafted in to help, giving confidential advice to both staff and customers.

And today The Rev Norris revealed that members of the public regularly stop him, to discuss everything from marriage problems to spiritual needs.

He said: "When I started some staff did wonder what I was doing here, and some customers have asked if it's fancy dress. But once they start talking to me, they say 'Oh yes.'

"I have had lots of positive comments from customers saying they appreciate having a chaplain in store, and they have certainly left messages with the customer service desk to that effect.

"I have had conversations on issues from prisons, to everyday things."

Mr Norris, who lives in Rossendale, works part time and the visiting chaplains -- the Rev Rob Pickering, of the United Reformed Church, and Father Lawrence Featham, of St Mary Magdalen's Church and St Christopher's School, visit on a Monday. The 43-year-old, who was born and brought up in Lancaster, has had a varied career in the church. He has served as a prison chaplain, worked as a counsellor, a mountain rescue chaplain, and most recently served in troubled Caribbean island, Haiti.

The clergyman found himself working for Asda in Lancaster as a store Santa Claus on trips home from Haiti, and transferred to the Accrington store, where he recently took up his current position.

The move is part of a national drive to employ a chaplain at each of Asda's stores across the country, and the Rev Norris says he has now got used to shoppers visiting him in between picking up their groceries.

He said: "It's never strange to me. I can't separate my spiritual life from my social one, and it's always good to know there is someone there to talk to."

Mark Wrigley, general store manager, said: "Phillip has proven to be very popular."

with both colleagues and customers and the visiting chaplains have been made very welcome in our store.

"They are all there for both colleagues and customers to chat to."