REVVING Reverend Graham Taylor has a laid-back approach to visiting his parishioners.

Proudly astride his Yamaha XV 1100 chopper bike, with cassock blowing in the wind and an open-face helmet, he looks more like a bat out of hell than a servant of God.

But while recent floods have cut off part of his North Yorkshire parish to cars, the biking vicar has cruised through.

"It gets me to places other vicars cannot reach" said Mr Taylor. "It has a marvellous growl which means my parishioners always know when I'm about to call.

"Most importantly it brings them out for a look, starts a conversation - it gets me there and breaks the ice."

Now 43, Mr Taylor used to patrol coastal parishes between Scarborough and Whitby as a policeman - the same beat made famous in the TV series Heartbeat.

But in 1995 he swapped his uniform for a dog collar and, 18 months ago, returned to his old beat as a vicar.

His laid-back style has not put parishioners off - with the congregation trebling since he came to town.

"I've always loved motorbikes and got my first one, a BSA 125, when I was 13. In the end, it was seized by the police.

"I bought the chopper when I moved to my new parish because it makes everywhere accessible.''

Mr Taylor, who in married with three daughters, has organised a sponsored bike ride to raise money to, among other things, reopen the cliff-top St Hilda's Church, at Ravenscar.

"Anyone who wants to help the community is welcome to join us whether they are a Hells Angel or a mod on a scooter," said Mr Taylor