THE new priest-in-charge of St Paul's CE Church, Constablelee, Rawtenstall, is already a familiar face in the Rossendale Valley.

The Rev David Parkin is also the vicar of St Mary's CE Church in Rawtenstall and now he has taken on a dual role providing a spiritual oversight for St Paul's parishioners who have been without a vicar since the Rev Peter Heywood retired last year. Mr Parkin, a father of five, has been at St Mary's for ten years. He said: "It will be a challenge.

"I will have to divide my time between the two parishes but both churches have a good team of preachers."

Mr Parkin said there were no plans to join the two churches together his appointment was an interim measure.