WHEN Jesus entered Jerusalem he chose to travel on a donkey. Yesterday, in keeping with the Christian tenets of humility, a North-East church leader chose to leave his flock using a similarly humble conveyance - a Skoda.

Some may look down sniffily on the car.

But to Bishop Ambrose Griffiths, who selected the 1.4 diesel model as a farewell gift on his retirement as bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, it was a worthy choice and exceptional value for money.

He said: "Like the people I have had the privilege to work with, the car is solid and reliable."

Father Michael Campion, Dean of St Mary's Cathedral, said: "When it was announced he was retiring, people in the diocese contributed to a retirement gift.

"Bishop Ambrose never had a chauffeur and drove himself everywhere in the diocese in a six or seven-year-old Mondeo.

"He is returning to serve in his former parish, in Leyland, Lancashire, and it was felt with leaving diocese he wouldn't have a decent car."

The bishop was told the planning committee had decided he was having a car and was asked what he would like.

He was overwhelmed when he learned only days ago about the donations from the parishes.

Fr Campion said: "He was quite enthusiastic about the Skoda, because it is made in Czech Republic, which has just come into the EU.

"Parts of the car are mostly from Audi and VW. He said people are just prejudiced against the name.

"Bishop Ambrose is an extremely modest and very humble man. And it is totally in keeping with his character that he never asked for a Lexus."

Fr Campion added: "Bishop Ambrose has a First Class honours in physics and chemistry from Oxford University, so he has a very scientific and analytical mind.

"He would have gone into this quite thoroughly."

About 150 priests and 500 other representatives from across the diocese gathered at St Mary's Cathedral, in Newcastle, for a midday mass yesterday.

The bishop, who retired after 12 years on reaching the compulsory retirement age of 75, was also presented with a computer.

He will be succeeded by Canon Kevin Dunn, who will be ordained as the 12th bishop of Hexham and Newcastle on May 25.