EVENING worship has been organised for people who cannot get to Sunday morning church services because of work and other commitments.

St Matthew's Parish Church, Leyburn, organised the new services, which begin this weekend, to fit in with modern lifestyles.

The Reverend Christopher Huggett said that the services would last about 40 minutes and include time for quiet reflection.

"In these busy modern times, there is often little space for a quiet moment," said Mr Huggett.

"Even those who would attend church on a Sunday morning find themselves unable to get there. Shift work, Sunday trading and other work commitments, leisure activities and clubs which meet on a Sunday, family visits and responsibilities, health problems which make it hard to get going in the morning - all these and other problems get in the way."

The services will be at 6pm, with evensong on the first Sunday of the month, except when United Christian Worship holds its quarterly meeting at the church. Holy Communion will be on the second Sunday, and evensong on the third. On the fourth Sunday of the month, evensong will be at St John's Church, Bellerby, at 6.30pm.