A NEW vicar has been appointed to serve a North Yorkshire community.

Reverend Andrew De Smet will become priest-in-charge of the Benefice of Kirkdale with Harome, Nunnington and Pockley, near Helmsley, later this year.

He will also take up the role of co-ordinator and advisor of care to the Diocese of York.

Mr De Smet is the warden of Offa House, the Coventry Diocesan retreat and conference centre.

Previously, he was rector of four churches and advisor in pastoral care and counselling for the Coventry Diocese.

He is married to Janet and they have four children, two of whom are still at school.

A spokesman for the Kirkdale benefice said: "Mr De Smet and his family can be assured of a warm welcome and full support from the congregation of the four parishes, comprised of six villages and five churches, who have been in an interregnum since the retirement of the Reverend John Warden, in January."