POPULAR East Lancashire priest Father Leo Heakin is leaving his parish for pastures new.

But although soccer fan Fr Heakin is leaving Burnley's St John the Baptist RC Church, where he has served for eight years, he doesn't yet know where his next "fixture" will be.

"I leave a week on Monday for a month's break and then start work refreshed and ready for a new challenge," he said.

Fr Heakin, a priest for 28 years, has served in many churches around Lancashire and Manchester, including St Wulstan's, Great Harwood, Blackburn Catholic Youth Centre, St Anne's, Blackburn, St Mary's, Levenshulme and St Aiden's, Royton.

He also spent three years as one of the four priests chosen to help set up an inner city parish in Manchester's Moss Side.

He hails from Salford and supports Manchester City - and is personal friend of new manager Joe Royle. But when his first posting took him to East Lancashire, he soon adopted Burnley as his home team.

However, he had to miss Burnley's last Wembley appearance in 1994 because he had a wedding to conduct - for a Blackburn Rovers fan.

At a party to celebrate Fr Heakin's 25th year in the priesthood, he received a special soccer scarf - one half claret and blue and the other blue and white for his two top teams.

His brother, Kieran is headmaster of St John's junior school, Thames Avenue, Burnley.

Fr Heakin says he will miss Burnley and the church which attracts 750-strong congregations.

"Burnley is a wonderful town with terrific people. I will take with me many happy memories.

"And I will shout for the Clarets until the day I die!" he added.

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