A YOGA-practising cleric has hit back at a vicar who banned classes from his church hall because he feared they were not compatible with Christianity.

During 14 years as rector of Stanhope, in Weardale, County Durham, the Reverend Charles Lovell taught yoga to parishioners of all ages.

He preached a sermon on meditation to the diocese in Durham Cathedral, and instructed other yoga teachers.

Now retired and living in Wolsingham, he dismissed the actions of the Reverend Dick Farr, of Henham, near Saffron Walden, Essex, who became concerned after discovering that students in yoga classes were aiming to "ascend to a higher spiritual plain".

Mr Lovell, who was chaplain at the former Winterton psychiactric hospital, near Sedgefield, for eight years, said: "People like this come along from time to time. It is complete rubbish.

"My view is that Christ is to be found in all religions. Some people are afraid of that, because their own faith is based upon things that are fairly flimsy.

"Yoga can help stretch the mind and body. It helps people find their spirituality and think for themselves, instead of being spoon-fed.

"That is one of the reasons why some vicars don't like it.

"At the same time, the health benefits are immeasurable and they have been well documented.

"The problem can be that some of the teachers use some of the Hindu mantras, and this can create conflict."