A CLOWNING cleric who uses his skills to tell Bible stories will be helping Burnley churches celebrate the new millennium.

Burnley Deanery has arranged for the Rev Roly Bain to perform for children all over the area from September 28 to 30.

The Bristol-based vicar was ordained in 1978 and went to circus school in 1990.

He uses a clown show to deliver the Christian message and has travelled all over the world.

The Rev Tony Dalton, of St Catherine's Church, said: "It is the Christian new millennium and in Burnley we did not want everything to be over and done with on January 2 so as a deanery we organised this celebration.

"All the Anglican churches have come together to pay for him to perform for free for the children."

Mr Bain appear at Worsthorne School, Barden High School, St Matthew's Church, Wellfield School and St Leonard's Church, Padiham.

In addition, he will perform in front of 600 children from six primary schools at Turf Moor sports hall.

A grand finale, on September 30, will see the clowning cleric entertain people at an open event at Gawthorpe High School, Padiham, when there will also be side shows, a bouncy castle, food and refreshments and a balloon race

Mr Dalton said: "We wanted to do something different and this will be fun and also dedicated to the young people from the town from churches of all denominations."