FARMERS have been warned of a "gloomy" future by the outgoing Bishop of Hereford.

During his final week in office, the Rt Rev John Oliver criticised politicians for their lack of understanding of rural affairs and spoke up for a curate who is seeking a legal ruling over a Hereford woman's controversial late abortion.

"I am still pretty gloomy about the future of farming. I don't see a way in which traditional farming is going to come back or even be sustainable," said Bishop John, who is stepping down from heading the most rural Church of England diocese on Sunday.

"Rural interests are well understood and well championed in the House of Lords but this is not the case in the House of Commons. There is a real sense that most MPs are not people who understand or are interested in the countryside."

Bishop John, who has spent 13 years in the office, also criticised anti-hunt groups for not realising the importance hunting plays in and around Hereford.

"A lot of jobs are relying on the continuation of hunting - this is simply not understood by the opponents who have completely misjudged it."

He also supported Rev Joanna Jepson, who is attempting to take West Mercia Police to court for failing to launch prosecutions following a Hereford woman's abortion.

The case revolves around the police's alleged failure to investigate accusations of unlawful killing made against the doctors who terminated a pregnancy at six months because the mother-to-be did not want to give birth to a baby with a cleft lip and palate.

"This issue is about using trivial reasons for a baby to lose its life," said Bishop John. "If this is as Rev Jepson states then I am quite sure that the abortion is wrong," he added.