A NEW vicar at a Worcester estate has pledged to work with the community to improve residents' "spiritual lives".

Rev Robin Charles became the new vicar of St Michael's Church, in Burleigh Road, Dines Green, just over a week ago.

The 54-year-old, who attended a snack and chat afternoon at the church on Saturday, came from a post as associate priest at the St Mary and All Saints Church in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

"I am already deeply impressed by the amount of voluntary care work that the Christian congregation from St Michael's are committed to, which gives me confidence that together we can have a noticeable impact on improving the quality of people's spiritual lives," he said.

Mr Charles, who has two grown up sons, had a commercial career spanning 15 years before his ordination in 1986.

"I loved the Far East and Asia and for eight years travelled there regularly selling liquid gold and ceramic colours," he added.

He later became the purchasing manager for the same group of factories, part of Johnson Matthey and Co.

"I first felt drawn to the post in Dines Green some 15 years ago, but accepted a parish nearer my birthplace in the Potteries, north Staffordshire instead," he said.

"Somehow God has eventually had His way, and here I am, several parishes later, back at Dines Green."