A vicar has led his last church service after 14 years of serving Halstead’s parishioners.

The Rev John Blore, 65, has now stepped down from his role at St Andrew’s Church in Parsonage Street after almost 40 years as minister.

Mr Blore, who grew up in Southend, was a curate in Waltham Abbey and East Ham before he moved to Halstead.

He started his training to join the church at university and said he felt a calling to become a priest from a very young age.

He has only spent one year outside of the church since his training, after he was encouraged to spend some time as a labourer at a steel company in Sheffield.

Mr Blore said: “I had my last service on the Sunday just gone.

“It went very well, there was a good number of people there.

“People said very kind words to me and they made me a presentation and gave me a cheque to go towards my garden, so I am looking forward to all that."

See this week's Halstead Gazette for the full story.