THE vicar of Bolton Canon Michael Williams has revealed he is to retire later this year.

Canon Williams, who has been in charge at Bolton Parish Church for the last eight years, will turn 65 this year, and says the time has come to step down.

But he says he and his wife have become so attached to the area that they plan to remain in Bolton.

"The is no definite date but I will be retiring sometime this year," he said.

"I have enjoyed my time in Bolton. I haven't got any plans for my retirement, I will just wait and see."

Mr and Mrs Williams, who have two grown-up children, moved into the vicarage at St Peters after the former Vicar of Bolton, Canon Alan Wolstencroft left to become Archdeacon of Manchester.

Mr Williams began his career in the church working as a priest in Toxteth, Liverpool for eight years before moving to Durham where he helped train others for the ministry.

He then became principal of the Northern Ordination Course in Manchester, training potential vicars and ministers for the Church of England and Methodist movement.

The West Bromwich born vicar took up the Bolton post saying: "After 20 years of telling other people how to do it, I thought it was about time to practise what I preach!"

During his time in Bolton Mr Williams became an outspoken advocate for women's ordination and gay rights. Last week, he said he was prepared to bless gay "marriages" at the Parish Church - even though it is against Church of England policy.

And when Ann Summers opened its store on Newport Street, Bolton, in 2000, sparking outrage among some Christian groups, Cannon Williams said there was a danger of being prudish over human sexuality and he believed an open and flexible attititude to be more healthy.

It is likely to be next year before a new Vicar of Bolton is appointed.

The parish church is also losing its associate vicar, the Rev Debby Plummer.

Miss Plummer has been appointed as priest in charge of St Margaret's Holyrood, Prestwich, and will be leaving Bolton in the summer.