A METHODIST preacher who has taken services at 70 churches has celebrated 50 years delivering sermons.

Tony Service, 71, from Brayton, preached at his first service in Leeds, and now preaches regularly on the Selby and Goole circuit.

To mark the occasion, he was presented with a certificate by the Rev Stephen Burgess, the Methodist district chaiman, at a service at Barlby Methodist Church.

Tony, a retired industrial sales manager in the chemical industry, whose wife Jill is an assistant steward on the circuit, said: “I have enjoyed going out to the different churches and meeting the church members,”